Were it not for football, Wadadia women’s team trainer Joy Wanjau concedes that she would not studied past the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) level.Her plan of becoming an astute sports scientist in future received a shot in the arm after successfully graduating with a Diploma in Sports Administration at the Masinde Muliro University early in December 2022.Wanjau intends to build on her Diploma certification and pursue her childhood dream of becoming a Sports Scientist in future should her financial fettle look up.##NAJAVA_MECA_6911585##A quick scan through the portals of various universities in the country shows that a Sports Science degree course is readily available to those who meet the entry requirements.”I owe my academic success and that I have achieved thus far in life to football. Were it not for the opportunities the game offered me, probably I would have studied up to form four and concentrated on other things in life. However, the game took care of my post Secondary School education,” she opens up as we settle in for the interview.One might be tempted to ask how playing football opened the opportunity to the budding trainer to pursue her academic dream.EXCLUSIVE: From a street kid to a lethal striker – this is the inspiring story of Josphat LopagaWell, Wanjau does not shy from admitting that she hails from a humble background and scaling past the Secondary School education bar was not a guarantee, performance in the national examination notwithstanding.However, the 22-year old prides herself as the first child in a family of six to have broken the norm that she regrets that existed in her family courtesy of her talent in football.Wanjau recounts that her journey to football started at twelve years when Iddi Rotino, a grassroots coach spotted her talent when she tried her luck at Eldoret Pancub Academy.She revealed that the academy had invited children below the age of ten years for trials with the successful ones receiving scholarships and the chance to have their talents developed.Strength of a woman: Meet the madam driving Posta Rangers team busIt is after meeting all the set thresholds in the trials, that the retired centre back was drafted into the academy marking a start to her march to football greatness.Before the opportunity to join Pancab presented itself, Wanjau’s good conduct had procured her a transfer to the Milton Jones School from Kipkaren Primary School in 2010 when she was a class four pupil. The institution was offering scholarships to needy students and Wanjau was considered for the offer after her church; The Christian Community Church of Christ recommended her name.”I began playing football at the age of ten when I was admitted to the Pancub Academy. I was a class four pupil by then who was solely focused on studies little did I know of the God given talent in me. I underwent trials and luckily, I passed despite being new to the game. The academy’s main objective was to give children from less privileged backgrounds scholarships. Before joining the academy I had also transferred to a better Primary School,” she narrated.Sanctimonious whistler waiting for FIFA ‘kingdom’ 16 years down the lineAfter sitting for her Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams in 2014, Wanjau’s name was recommended for trials at Butere Girls’ that were in search for a new pool of fresh blood to replace those who had exited the institution after taking final exams.Wanjau’s academic excellence in her Primary School education came in handy during the trials as the institution gave pupils who had scored more than three hundred marks and possessed football talent top priority.The third born in a family of six was admitted to Butere Girls’ High in 2015 on a scholarship after her defensive attributes displayed in the trials impressed the school’s team coach Joshua Sakwa.She however, found the tough going in far as getting playing time in the school team is concerned as the competition for the available slots was sky-high given the quality of players Sakwa had assembled.EXCLUSIVE: How Okanda revived his football career at the Kakuma refugee campThe Real Madrid fanatic spent the first year in the reserve team but fought her wa, to the team the following year that culminated to her crowning as the overall games’ captain.Wanjau recalls inspiring the team to the regional quarter finals in 2017 as her best sporting moment in High School. She pointed a knee injury as the reason for absence in the team in her final year in school.The Eldoret born trainer acknowledges that the scholarship went a long way in ensuring that she did not her studies interrupted by constant send away for fees and relieved the burden on the shoulders of her parents.”I was not sure if I would proceed with my Secondary School education as my parents were struggling to make ends meet. Even if I would have joined a school in our neighborhood, I would be chased away for fees. Luckily, I got a scholarship at Butere Girls’ that enabled me to study comfortably and play football,” she said.Post High School lifeAfter writing her final examination, she returned home and joined Eldoret Falcons who by then plied trade in the women’s Premier League (WPL).Despite her young age, she nailed down a slot in the team in late in 2018 and managed to have a taste of what the top flight matches had to serve.From child labour to football stardom – This is Moses Mudavadi’s storyDesperate to break that norm in the family of siblings not advancing past the Secondary School stage, Wanjau did not let the pride that comes with playing in the top flight override her ambitious to further her studies.Upon getting wind of a trial program and the possibility of landing a scholarship at Masinde Muliro, Wanjau was forced to ghost her club for a while as she hit the road to Kakamega for the trials held in 2019.Before going down to business, she says, she decided to cast her net deeper by first applying for the course of her choice and trying her luck in the trials that would see the successful ones get scholarship.She prevailed in the exercise and consequently, was admitted to the institute to pursue her Diploma course on half a scholarship.Luckily, the Kenya Footballers Welfare Association (KEFWA) offered to pay the other half much to the relief of the player who was worried of where to secure funds to shoulder the remaining bit of tuition fees.After settling at Masinde Muliro she continued serving Eldoret Falcons while at the same time featuring for the institution on the various competitions it took part among them is the Kenya University Sports Association (KUSA) Games.”After finishing High School, there appeared to be no light at the end of education tunnel at all. I was however determined to further my studies and be the barrier breaker in our family. I landed double scholarships at Masinde Muliro and KEFWA that enabled me to study a Diploma course,” she said.Wanjau revealed that she ditched Eldoret Falcons in 2021 after the team was axed to the second tier after finishing the season in the red zone.She would join Women and Development against Distress in Africa (Wadadia) team after cutting ties with Falcons but could not serve her new club for long as a player thanks to recurring knee injuries.”Even after I got the scholarship, I continued playing for Falcons but at some point, life got busy and thus, commuting from Kakamega to Eldoret during the weekends became difficult. I had to make a switch in 2021, a year that Falcons sadly got relegated,” she offered.With the nagging injuries constantly erecting barriers in her football development, Wanjau who listed Harambee Starlets ace Jentrix Shikangwa as the toughest opponent she had faced enrolled for a CAF D coaching course.After laying hands on the coaching license that she called it a day and subsequently, joined Wadadia’s technical bench as a trainer.”I had to painfully retire as an active player due to the recurring injuries. I wish I would have lasted longer in the game as a player but I am glad that I am still involved albeit in a different capacity. I am ready to further my coaching knowledge in future,” she said.Future plans With a CAF D coaching license and a Sports Administration certificate already in the bag, the Afro Beats lover is hoping to take his degree course and implement the knowledge in the local teams, federations and possibly, the Ministry of Sports.Wanjau who firmly believes that maladministration is to be blamed for the dwindling standards of football in our local leagues says time is ripe for active and retired players took education seriously with an aim of curing the perennial problem.”I intend to use the knowledge I gained in school in helping our clubs, federations and even the Ministry in solving the administrative issues which have contributed to the decline of the standards of our game. I also want to go back to school and gather more skills,” she revealed.How Tusker defender defied his mother to become a footballerMuch as she wishes to transition into administration in future, Wanjau first says she has a debt to repay to Wadadia and Falcons for believing in her talent and giving her the chance.“Before life gets busy to the extent that my schedule will be tight, I want to serve the two teams in a professional way. These teams gave me a platform to study and play football as well as practice my coaching and training skills. I also want to inject professionalism in our football,” she said.With the influx of women into coaching and to other opportunities the game has been offering from time to time getting better with time, Wanjau is calling for more ladies to try their hands management and coaching.She says the game presents countless chances to women whom she is calling to grab them and help Kenyan football get to the next level.BioName: Wanjau Joy WambuiDate of Birth: 21-08-2000Height: 113cmWeight: 55kgsFavourite meal: Ugali and kukuEducationPrimary School: Milton Jones Eagles AcademySecondary School: Butere Girls National High schoolRole Model: Lucy BronzeWorst Moment in WPL: 2021 – Eldoret Falcons relegation from WPLHobbies: Travelling, Watching movies Toughest opponent: Jentrix Shikangwa
