Gentrix Shikangwa, Vihiga Queens’ lethal forward has been a regular in her team even before she could sit her final secondary school exams and has turned into a mainstay in the national team too. Shikangwa, on Thursday 23 September, converted from the spot to help her side qualify for the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Women’s Cup final set for 2 October 2021. “We missed the league title and got an opportunity to redeem ourselves with the CECAFA Zonal qualifiers. This is another opportunity to lift a local league trophy this season and we are ready for the challenge,” said Shikangwa. Gentrix Shikangwa sends Simba Queens back to the dusty streets of Kariokor in Dar es Salaam! Vihiga Queens will definetely meet CBE in the final of the #CECAFAWCLQ. Will they avenge the 4-2 loss inflicted by the laides from Addis Ababa earlier in the tournament?— Jeff Kinyanjui (@Nyash88) September 6, 2021 The youngster is, however, looking beyond the local football scene. Having qualified for the inaugural Confederation of African Football (CAF) Women’s Champions League set for November 5 to 18 in Egypt, she says that is an opportunity to further her football career. “I am heading to Egypt with the target of helping my team win. Most importantly, I will be there to sell talent to a larger audience and I am hoping to land a professional deal. It is my wish that I play in Europe vine next season and this is my chance. I have given my all for my club and it is time to further my career and give another youngster a chance to feature for Vihiga and grow their brand too,” said Shikangwa. The teenager began her football career proper at Wiyeta Girls where she was part of the national school games’ winning squad of 2016. Her performance earned her a slot in the women’s Under-20 national team, Rising Starlets. She would soon transition to the senior Harambee Starlets team and was a part of the Olympics qualifying squad. Harambee Starlets beat giants Ghana 1-0 after extra time to book a ticket to the third round of qualification against Zambia. The goal was scored by Shikangwa from the spot. #Tokyo2020Q 3rd round return leg;Kenya 🇰🇪 1-0 🇬🇭 Ghana (Gentrix Shikangwa ⚽) The #HarambeeStarlets qualify for the fourth round with a 1-0 agg. win. Gentrix converted from the spot for 🇰🇪 The game went into extra time and was played under floodlights. pic.twitter.com/iq1CWcEW3E— Idah Waringa (@IdahWaringa) October 8, 2019 It was only the second time that Shikangwa was stepping off the bench to score a winner as she did the same during Starlets’ friendly match with Ethiopia in Machakos prior to the start of the Olympic qualifiers. Starlets were eliminated by Zambia in the penultimate round of qualification. Barely a month after the team was bundled out of the Olympics qualifiers, they did duty in Tanzania to win Kenya’s maiden CECAFA Women’s title. Shikangwa scored ten times to take home the golden boot, including the two goals that helped the side clinch the title against hosts Tanzania. This, despite being brought on as a second half substitute in almost all matches the Starlets played. She was also part of the Harambee Starlets’ squadvthat did duty in an invitational Turkish Women’s Cup held in March 2020.
