After finishing second to Thika Queens in the Women Premier League (WPL) 2020/21 season, Kiambu-based Gaspo Women walked home with no medals and a paltry Kshs 150,000 in prize money to show for the season’s effort. At the same time Thika Queens who had won the league unbeaten both at the Zone A league and in the playoffs were awarded Ksh 350,000 despite the league winner having been promised a Kshs 1 million payout. The goal-posts had been shifted mid-season and there was nothing the teams could do. All hail Queens! The nation is proud of youAhead of the 2021/22 season that was set to kick off on Saturday 13 November but has since been postponed for two weeks following Football Kenya Federation’s (FKF) disbandment, the league had reverted to a unified format with 12 teams taking part. “Initial agreement had been that the league would be unified when the federation gets a sponsor but until their removal from office, no communication had been made concerning that,” offered Gaspo’s team manager Edward Githua. While Gaspo are lucky to have a donor who ensures they can comfortably travel to honour matches, other teams have not been so lucky and some, like Kayole Starlets, had already indicated that they would not be honouring their matches without sponsorship.”Whoever is in charge after the two weeks does not matter. What we want for our women’s league a sponsor so the girls can have something to play for. Imagine playing a league and a playoff to finish in second place and still not have an individual medal to show for it. We got Kshs 150,000 instead of the promised Ksh 500,000 Kayole Starlets ready for relegation as financial woes biteThe teams that managed to get to the final in the inaugural Women’s Cup were lucky as they got medals but the prize money was not what had been promised. Better should be done for our women footballers,” Githua offered. The Kiambu-based side was set to travel way to Kisumu for a season-opening clash against Kisumu All Starlets with the manager opening that the two weeks will do nothing to change women’s football in the country if the financial situation of teams is not addressed. “We were ready for the season and the delay is neither welcome nor frowned upon from our end. However, even if the league is postponed by three months, most teams will still be at the same place financially. We call on either the Caretaker Committee or the federation, whoever will be in charge, to come to the rescue of women’s football,” added Githua.
