Zetech Sparks’ midfielder Mercy Njeri, at only 21, boasts of five years’ experience at the Varsity side which plays in the top-flight Kenya Women Premier League. The lean midfield dynamo marshalled Zetech’s central midfield 15 times in the just concluded WPL season and now believes she is ready to face tougher challenges should opportunities arise. ‘’I have been here since as a teenager and garnered more experience than I could imagine I would by this time,’’ she says.‘’It’s every girl’s dream to win trophies and I am no exception. Of course, with the blessings of my team management, I’m ready to face tougher challenges should the chances come during the pre-season,’’##NAJAVA_MECA_7359253##The 2022/23 WPL championship was won by Vihiga Queens while the domestic cup was bagged by Ulinzi Starlets. Word on the ground however, indicates that she might cross over to Queens as opposed to Starlets.‘’We cannot say for sure at the moment that I will go to a specific team. There are plans in the pipeline but that is not for me to reveal now. All I can hope for is a smooth move,’’ continues Psychology student. Njeri, who plays both ahead of defence and behind the strikers, was involved in 7 goals; she provided seven assists for their talent-laden attack that comprise such seasoned names as Puren Alukwe. The former Tar Tar Girls’ and Archbishop Njenga Girls’ midfielder finished 3rd with the latter during the 2019 National ball games held in Kisumu before finishing fourth at the East Africa school games held in Tanzania the same year. Kariobangi Sharks smiling all the way to the bank after cashing Tyson Otieno to Police FCHer footballing background in school she says, built her for the top flight early.‘’Both of my former schools were footballing giants. At Tar Tar, I was the most valuable player in the Chapa Dimba na Safaricom tournament Rift Valley region. Later on, I managed to play all the way to the East Africa games with Arch Bishop Njenga,’’ continues Njeri. Well-travelled too, Njeri- at the time an U14 with Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA), won the Sotra Sports club Girls Tournament in Norway back in 2016. Mozzart Bet Cup hero Kevin Amwayi relishing second lease of lifeShe would guide MYSA to the Norway Cup semi-final in the same year. These are the tournaments that exposed her to professional levels of football at an early age.‘’When you attend such international camps at an early age, you are likely to fall in love with the game permanently. I did,’’ she says.Currently pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at Zetech University, Njeri hopes to strike a new balance between schoolwork and football should she make a move outside Sparks.
