OVER THE MOON

Vihiga Queens crowned WPL champions with a match in hand

Adouble from Anita Namata guided the legacy Makers to their fifth title in six years.

In Summary

• The Vihiga County-sponsored side have 52 points—four more than old nemesis Gaspo who boasts 48 points.

• Queens' coach Boniface Nyamunyamu termed the milestone achievement priceless and dedicated the trophy to the players after another unbeaten run in the second half of the season.

Vihiga Queens players in a past match
Vihiga Queens players in a past match
Image: /FILE

Vihiga Queens are 2022/23 Kenya Women's Premier League champions after narrowly beating Nakuru City Queens 2-1 at the Nakuru showground yesterday.

A double from Anita Namata guided the legacy Makers to their fifth title in six years, reducing their ultimate match against rivals Gaspo Women to a dead-rubber tie.

The Vihiga County-sponsored side have 52 points— four more than old nemesis Gaspo who boast 48 points.

Queens' coach Boniface Nyamunyamu termed the milestone achievement priceless and dedicated the trophy to the players after another unbeaten run in the second half of the season.

"It was tough at the beginning of the season with the injuries and inconsistency costing us points," The coach, who boasts of two WPL titles at Vihiga said.

"We put our act together in the second leg, where we have a 100 percent record. This was possible because of the determination and encouragement the technical bench gave to the players," he noted. 

"Resilience was key and hard work was the secret. The results are there for all to see. We have been in a tight title race before and we were not worried about Gaspo because we knew they will falter at some point," he added.

Deflated Gaspo have drawn their last two matches to put an end to their title dreams after going toe-to-toe with Vihiga for the better part of the league.

Nyamunyamu added that the team will switch their attention to the Cecafa Club Champions League qualifiers set for July in Uganda. 

FKF are expected to announce Vihiga as Kenya's representative in the qualifiers immediately after the final match this weekend.

"We now have to focus on Cecafa. We missed the showpiece last year because of Fifa's suspension but it is good we are back to where we belong," an elated Nyamunyamu posed.

Vihga participated in the inaugural Caf Women's Champion League in Egypt 2021 after winning the qualifiers in Nairobi.