Harambee Starlets defender Phoebe Aketch had just signed for Hakkarigücü Spor in Turkey in January, then a deadly 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit the country. Delirium. Confusion. Fear. Uncertainty.She was yet to settle down, having signed a six-month deal with the Turkish side in January after auditioning with them, joining her two compatriots Vivian Nasaka and Mwanahalima Adam at the club.© Phoebe OketchRecounting the events in Turkey that left former Ghanian international Christian Atsu dead, Oketch said that it was a very terrifying moment for her and it still is with the after-quakes popping up.”It was terrific. People died and for some time I feared. Although where we are situated is a bit far from where it happened, I still have fear because there more after-quakes happening. That has been the biggest setback in my settling in at the club. this is not something that I had experienced at this level back at home, so it was shocking,” she told Mozzart Sport.The 28-year-old is happy to have gotten the chance to play outside the country, revealing that she has enjoyed her new club so far, thanks to the welcoming nature of everyone in the team.##NAJAVA_MECA_7041449##”Away from tragic earthquake and the repurcussions, everything else at the team has been good. The club is very welcoming, starting with the management down to the players, they all welcomed me well and I have been enjoying my stay here. I am happy to get such an opportunity having in mind they are rare to come by. So now it is upon me to work hard, put in the extra effort and help the team. I have had to adapt to the weather and the food, their ugali is very soft not like what we are used to in Kenya,” she went on.The defender has already featured in one match, playing in the 3-0 defeat to ALG Spor Women earlier in February, a match in which she partnered with her old teammate Vivian Nasaka at the heart of defence, with Dogo captaining the team.Kenyan trio safe after Turkey earthquakeOketch and Nasaka played together at multiple Kenya Women Premier League champions Vihiga Queens, an experience that she believes will come in handy for both of them in Turkey.”I have played in one league match already and it feels great playing with two of my compatriots. We are away from home and this is the closest to home where we feel there is a strong sisterhood bond. We have played together with her (Vivian) and doing so again in a foreign land makes me happy. It is easier because our communication is top and we are used to playing together,” she highlighted.© Phoebe OketchThe 2022 January KEFWA player of the month in the Kenya Women Premier League is looking forward to earning more call-ups to the national team, insisting that she will put all the required effort to see to it that she is included in the list when Harambee Starlets do their next international duty.She made her national team debut in 2016 and has been a constant figure since then.Kenyan trio of Mwanahalima Adams, Vivian Nasaka, and Phoebe Oketch safe and sound in Turkey. They all play for Hakkarigücü Spor, based in Hakkari and luckily their area was not affected by the earthquake. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/iGLc5bguD1— Murimi Njiru (@muriminjirujnr) February 7, 2023 “Every player wants to represent his country as much as they can, and that is what I would like also. I have been on the national team previously, and I am working to earn more call ups, which will be my joy. I believe I am gathering invaluable experience that I will be able to pass at the national team level when I get the chance again, and I believe I will,” she finished.
