Jinayo Leluai from Samburu County is aiming for the stars after being selected to join the select Talanta Hela U19 team that trains in Nairobi during the holidays.Leluai is a Form Two student at Kisima Secondary School and plays for Lareolib Football Club in Samburu. The youngster joins the Talanta Hela camp during the school holidays to further sharpen her skills.She received a call-up to join the team in December 2023 following the completion of the Talanta Hela Under-19 football tournament, where Samburu won the Upper Eastern Region ladies’ category.Troubled Olympic Pirates relegated from FKF Division OneSpeaking to Mozzart Sport, Leluai noted that she was aiming to change her family’s fortunes, as well as demystifying the widespread myth that football is a male-dominated field.“I always pray to God that my talent will take me far. I felt great when I finally received the call-up to join the camp. We were told that in 2030, we will feature in the World Cup, and I cannot wait,” she averred.The youngster started playing football while in Class Three with her fellow girls in the village. Her father, David Leluai, noticed her talent and has since been supportive, buying her training gear and even facilitating her transport to local matches.“I started playing football in Class Three in the village with my friends. I was always praying to God to help me grow my talent. My dad has been very supportive of my journey. When I told him that I had been selected to join the Starlets, he was very happy,” she told Mozzart Sport.Joshua Chabicha hunting double glory with Gusii FCFor Leluai, football has enabled her to remain disciplined and be on the right track to success. As she describes, most of her friends went off course, a path she did not want to follow.“I saw a lot of girls going off course, but I remained dedicated to football, knowing that it would take me far,” she offered.The youngster first stepped onto the Kasarani and Nyayo stadiums last year during the Talanta Hela tournament, a memory she holds dear. It was also her first time in Nairobi.She explained that training with the Starlets was a dream come true.“I had never been to Kasarani or Nyayo Stadium. When I first entered the stadium, I felt great. Training with the national team is different. We are divided into groups, and we have lots of coaches. We are taught to dribble, pass, and various other things,” she averred.Leluai, who aims to be a professional referee in the future, attributes her success and growth to her dad.“I would love to be at the international level and make my dad proud,” she concluded.Gor Mahia’s fitness concerns emerge as FKF PL clashes reveal second-half struggles
