'Thin squad, lack of experience hurting our season', AllStarlets coach Juma laments

Kisumu All Starlets' difficult campaign in the Women’s Premier League continues to raise concern after head coach Juma Said revealed the extent of the challenges facing the team.

‎The club have endured a rough start to the season, failing to secure a single win and anchoring the bottom of the league table.

‎Speaking to Citizen Digital, Coach Juma said the root of their struggles lies in an extremely thin squad and a lack of experience among the available players.

‎”At the moment, the team has only 13 registered players, a number far below the competitive requirement for top-flight football. Even more worrying is that the squad includes just one goalkeeper, leaving the team vulnerable in case of injury or suspension,” he lamented.

‎The tactician attributed the small squad to severe financial limitations, saying the club simply lacks the resources to recruit new players who could boost depth and quality. Efforts to strengthen the team have stalled due to budget constraints, making it difficult to attract talent or invest in development.

‎"We only have one goalkeeper and she is even away at home. This season I have seen things never experienced before. For instance, home matches you can have only three players on the bench, we have so many players' cards but most are not turning up," Juma said.

‎The consequences have been clear on the pitch. Kisumu All Starlets have lost six matches, managing only a single draw—their best result so far this season. With just one point to their name, they sit bottom of the standings as pressure mounts to turn the situation around.

‎Coach Juma has also expressed deep frustration over the winless run but remains hopeful that with better financial support and an expanded squad, the team can begin to rebuild confidence and competitiveness.

‎As the season progresses, the spotlight is now on whether the club can secure the necessary support to rescue its campaign and offer its players a fair chance to compete at the highest level.