Vijago: Engesha's arrival crucial as Bullets beef up for title defense

Head coach David Vijago believes the arrival of the prolific striker—widely regarded as one of the biggest signings in recent league history—will address the team’s scoring concerns and strengthen their title defence.

The law enforcers officially unveiled Engesha on February 2, 2026, adding elite international pedigree to an already formidable squad.

“Tereza is a very talented player whose quality has been proven both locally and internationally,” Vijago said. “We brought her in to bolster our striking department, which is an area we have struggled with. We hope she will score many goals and help us retain the league title, which remains our main target.”

Engesha is the only Kenyan woman to have won a continental Champions League title, making history last year with China’s Wuhan Jiangda. The club defeated Melbourne City to lift the AFC Women’s Champions League trophy.

She has also been influential on the international stage, scoring a historic away goal against Tunisia to secure Kenya’s first away win in WAFCON qualifiers in 19 years. That strike helped Harambee Starlets qualify for the continental tournament for the first time since 2016.

Engesha rose to prominence at Vihiga Queens, where she established herself as one of the most lethal forwards in the Kenya Women Premier League. She won the Golden Boot with 36 goals in the 2017/18 season, followed by 23 goals in 2018/19 and 15 goals in just 12 matches in 2019. Her exploits powered Vihiga Queens to three consecutive league titles between 2017 and 2019.

After spells with South Korea’s Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels and Wuhan Jiangda, Engesha now returns home to spearhead Kenya Police Bullets’ attack in what is seen as a major boost for the defending champions.

She becomes the club’s fifth signing in the mid-season transfer window, following the arrivals of Kibera Soccer Women forward Faith Mboya, Butere Girls duo Halima Imbachi and Diana Anyango, and former Talanta Hela Under-19 captain Vidah Akeyo.

Meanwhile, Vijago says the ongoing three-week break in the Women Premier League will give his side time to fine-tune preparations ahead of a congested fixture schedule.

Police Bullets were set to face newcomers Gideon Starlets last weekend and Kisumu All Starlets this weekend, but both matches were postponed due to the involvement of 10 of their players in national team duty—four with Harambee Starlets and six with the Rising Starlets—who are preparing for WAFCON and the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.