Ogada: Arrival of Okere will boost Vihiga Queens' campaign

Vihiga Queens Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Michael Ogada Senelwa says the arrival of former Harambee Starlets tactician Charles Okere will boost the team’s agenda of clinching the forthcoming Cecafa club championship set for August 12-30 in Kampala Uganda.

The four times Kenya Women Premier League (KWPL) champions confirmed that Okere who is also Tusker FC deputy coach has joined their camp, and will spearhead the Cecafa campaign being assisted by Boniface Nyamunyamuh.

Nyamunyamuh played a big role after guiding the Kudundu based side in securing their fourth title in the 2022/23 KWPL season and together with Okere, they are expecting to guide the side in bagging the Cecafa title, as they did in 2021 in Nairobi to ensure the team qualified to the inaugural CAF Women Champions League held in Cairo, Egypt.

“It’s true that we have acquired Okere’s services who will spearhead the team ahead of Cecafa title as we are seeking to emerge victorious and qualify for the CAF Champions League in Ivory Coast. Okere is one of the greatest coaches in the country and to us he is more of a colleague having guided us in 2021. Despite him guiding the team, he will also play a big role in mentoring other four coaches we have in the camp.

“We are currently in the camp in Nairobi and we have intensified the preparations ahead of the tourney as we aim to win it.”

Okere led the queens to victory in the inaugural Cecafa club Championship in 2021 in Naiobi after they defeated CBE of Ethiopia 2-1 in the final match at Kasarani Stadium.

In Cairo, they were knocked out of the continental showpiece sin group stage after suffering 4-0 in the hands of Nigerian heavyweights to River Angels.

Vihiga hit the camp on July 23 in Nairobi, and have been training at Camp Toyoyo.

The squad has been beefed up by rejoining of defender Phoebe Oketch who is back from Hakkarigucu Sport FC in Turkey after just one season.

In a draw conducted by CAF on July 5, 2023, in Cairo, Egypt, Vihiga Queens, who were crowned the FKF Women Premier League Champions in May this year were drawn in Group B of the 2023 CAF Women Champions League CECAFA qualifiers. They will face JKT Queens of Tanzania, AS Kigali Women (Rwanda), and New Generation FC (Zanzibar).

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.

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.