In their first season in the top tier league, Ulinzi Starlets are champions of the inaugural Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Women’s Cup.The Joseph Mwanza-coached side faced off with three-time Women Premier League (WPL) champions Vihiga Queens who are currently preparing to represent CECAFA at the inaugural Confederation of African Football (CAF) Women’s Champions League in Egypt, emerging victorious in a 2-1 outcome.”It is a joy to lift this Cup. When we lost the league playoff quarters, we vowed to fight for this trophy and I am happy my players have fought for it to the last minute. It has been quite the struggle especially after some key players left mid-season for training school. It is a specialist trophy. Coming to the final, we had conceded twice in the quarters and twice in the semis and we knew that was something we needed to work on in the final. Our game plan worked,” said Mwanza after the win.For their win, Ulinzi Starlets bagged Ksh 350,000 courtesy of FKF while Vihiga Queens got a consolation of KSh 150,000 courtesy of the federation as well. Congratulations to Ulinzi Starlets for defeating the champions of East Africa Vihiga Queens 👏🏾👏🏾.Goes to show how competetive Kenyan Women’s football is slowly turning out to be.#FKFWomenCup pic.twitter.com/sBBIksoIhd— Mwawana Muema (@MwawanaMuema) October 2, 2021 Maureen Shimuli gave a man-of-the-match performance, helping the military side maintain their one goal advantage in the first half of the match and denying Vihiga numerous chances to equalise after taking a 2-1 lead in the second half. Lucy Mukhwana beat Vihiga’s defence in the ninth minute to slot in Ulinzi’s opener in the ninth minute. Gentrix Shikangwa got a chance yo level matters five minutes later. Unmarked on the left flank, she send her shot towards goal, but Shimuli was in position, having read Shikangwa’s intentions early enough to pounce on her efforts with ease. While Ulinzi seemed to have sat back waiting to punish Boniface Nyamunyamuh’s charges on the counter attack, Vihiga mounted attack upon attack in search of an equaliser in vain. Janet Bundi came close in the 18th minute after she was brought down just outside the box for a free kick but her effort missed goal by inches. From then on, Vihiga pitched tent on Ulinzi’s half. Shikangwa, twice had chances to grab the equalizer, with the defence beaten and the keeper to content with and in both instances, she send her shots over the bar. An entertaining #FKFWomenCup final👏 Vihiga Queens’ season salvaged by the #CecafaWCL title that earned them a spot in the #CAFWCL; had great runs in both the 2021 League & Cup titles but were denied at the final hurdle by Thika Queens & now Ulinzi Starlets, respectively. 👊 https://t.co/qb9Rx6A8Cv— Julia Wanjeri (@jwanjeri) October 2, 2021 Lady luck was not ready to smile on Vihiga as yet as they were denied by the goalpost in the 38th minute. In the 42nd, minute, Terry Engesha’s free kick missed target by a whisker as the match headed for the breather with the military side holding the slim advantage. On resumption, second half substitute Topister Situma drew Vihiga level but Christine Wekesa pounced on a loose ball outside the box to give Ulinzi the winning goal.”Luck was not on our side today. We dominated in possession but missed alot of sitters that if converted would have given us a comfortable win. I could tell my players were more focused on our CAF assignment even in training and might have contributed to our result here,” said Nyamunyamuh.Lilian Awuor, Vihiga Queens’ shot stopper won the golden glove award while Neddy Atieno won the golden boot award. Vihiga’s skipper Enez Mango was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) as action in the inaugural FKF Women’s Cup came to a close.
