Confident Okere rallies Vihiga ahead of Cecafa return

Four-time Kenyan Women Premier League (KWPL) champions Vihiga Queens will jet out to Kampala Uganda on Thursday, August 7ahead of the Cecafa club championship set for August 12-30. 

The Kidundu based side has intensified their preparation ahead of the regional showpiece after shifting camp to Nairobi and they are hopeful it will get them in shape ahead of the championship which will also act as a qualifier for the Caf Women’s Champions League to be staged in Ivory Coast later this year.

Last week, the side confirmed the arrival of former Harambee Starlets tactician Charles Okere who is also Tusker FC deputy coach to spearhead the Cecafa campaign being assisted by Boniface Nyamunyamuh.

Speaking to Citizen Digital, Nyamunyamuh said the morale is very high in the camp as they aim to clinch the title.

"Being the last week before the kickoff of the tournament, I can say the girls are in good shape and I’m happy that they have managed to utilize all what we have been telling them in our daily trainings. It’s my hope that the defence line will be strong enough, an area I fell needs a lot of concentration. Other departments are doing so well which includes goalkeeping, midfield and striking.

Okere who led the Queens to victory in the inaugural Cecafa club Championship in 2021 in Nairobi when they defeated CBE of Ethiopia 2-1 in the final wants the Kenyan champions to be as ruthless as possible going into the pool matches.

“We have been pooled in Group B against JKT Queens of Tanzania, AS Kigali Women (Rwanda), and New Generation FC (Zanzibar). It's like the pool of death, but we shall give it to our best. We haven’t met any of team in the pool but we have watched their previous matches and I think they are very beatable.

"We are the legacy makers and we are going for the title so as to qualify for the third edition of Caf Women’s Champions League in Ivory Coast.”

Uganda’s Kampala Queens, C.B.E FC (Ethiopia), F.A.D FC (Djibouti), Buja Queens (Burundi), and Yei Joints FC (South Sudan) are in Group A.

Okere has in the meantime thanked the Ministry of Sports alongside the Football Kenya Federation (FKF)  for allowing them to train at Kasarani stadium, which was a bit hard in their previous training whereby they were forced to use Camp Toyoyo and Stima Plaza Grounds.

Kenya did not have a representative in the tournament held last year as the East African country had been suspended from international football due to government interference.