•Robi said she plays football to prove to people that women are also better than their male counterparts and should be taken seriously.
• In 22 matches, Robi scored 14 goals and assisted her teammates 25 times while being voted player of the month twice.
Image: HANDOUT
Maximila Robi, a fan favourite and talented attacking midfielder, has set her eyes on having a greater season in the FKF Women's Premier League, which kicked off a week ago.
Robi, who plays for the Kibera Soccer Ladies, had a record-breaking 2022-2023 season.
In 22 matches, Robi scored 14 goals and made an impressive 25 assists while being voted player of the month twice.
Kibera Ladies were promoted after finishing at the top of Zone 'A' of the FKF Women Division One League. The Soccer Assassins were the ultimate champions of Division One after emerging victorious against the Kibera Ladies in the playoffs.
Robi says their coach, Rama Vijago, played a crucial role in earning them a promotion. "During matches, he knows how to read the game and is good at preparing us before we meet our next opponent."
Robi started playing football for the Beijing Raiders while still in primary school at Mcedo Beijing in Mathare, Nairobi County.
At Kobala Secondary School in Homabay County, she represented the institution at the national school games every year she played for the team.
She joined Kibera Ladies Football Club in 2021, a year after finishing her O-level education.
Robi said she plays football to prove to people that women are also better than their male counterparts and should be taken seriously.
"I want to be the first girl from Mathare to make it in football at the highest level so that young girls from my neighbourhood can have someone they can look up to and inspire them."
Getting prompted to play in the Premier League was an amazing experience for Robi and her teammates after missing out during the previous season.
They had to overcome the challenge of opposition teams in the division to emerge at the top.
"Uweza Women and Mombasa Olympics were the two clubs I can say matched our strengths and proved to be a tough test for us," she noted.
Teams in relegation also played with defiance. They were fighting to get a result to improve their standing on the table, and we were at the same time looking at maintaining our position," said Robi.
Many players and fans always expect three outcomes in a match, but for Robi, it is different.
Any time she steps on a football pitch, her goal is to win. "I don't like losing.''
This is evident in their performance from last season, where they recorded 12 wins, four draws, and only one loss.
Her objectives for this season are to improve on her goal tally by being the club's top scorer and guiding Kibera Ladies to the CAF Women's Champions League by the end of the season.
"As a team, that is what we are aiming for. On winning the Premier League title, we've had a good pre-season; I don't see any team challenging us," said Robi.
Throughout last season, Robi acknowledges there have been some challenges the women's league has had, like some clubs lacking funds to honour their away matches. This resulted in the opponents getting a walkover.
However, she said her team has been lucky enough to participate in all matches and be able to train without any hitches.
Players getting pregnant in the middle of the season is also another challenge for clubs. "Every player is important, but when the one everyone is counting on isn't available, it disrupts the team's plan," said Robi.
Kenyans also don't show up to watch women's football matches or support them by buying their jerseys or merchandise, compared to men.
This is quite unfortunate considering there are no entrance charges. Robi thinks having the matches streamed live on platforms like Facebook can help popularise the game and attract more fans.
She hopes the federation and stakeholder groups can also prioritise women's football like the men's teams in terms of marketing and branding. "It's easy to know which men's team will play days before the fixture, unlike women's teams. The hype is not the same," said Robi.
Robi's advice to young girls with an interest in pursuing football as a career: "Never stop training. Look for clubs with women teams and learn to hone your craft."
Her persistence to follow her dream eventually won her parents' support after they realised she was indeed talented. Their wish was for her to quit football, but it started to pay off when she got funds to offset her school fees.
Currently, she says football has enabled her to travel across the country, make new friends, and, most importantly, pay her bills and rent.
Image: HANDOUT
Robi has been lucky to play with her older sister, Anney Matinde, on the same team. Matinde, a striker, joined Kibera Soccer Ladies at the end of last season and managed to score three goals, with Robi providing some of the assists.
"I feel happy playing with her on the same team. We started playing together since we were kids at Beijing Raiders, then in high school, and now we're at the same club," said Matinde.
Matinde shares the same sentiments as Robi: "If women's football gets much support, it will eventually motivate other girls to join the sport as a career.
In March of this year, Robi got her first call-up to the senior women's national team.
"It felt great. The training sessions offered a good opportunity to interact and learn from other players who are already playing international football," said Robi.
She acknowledges the support she has been receiving from both Coach Mark Okwiri and Benedict Kiage. They have always encouraged me to continue playing football.
"If I had quit when everyone wanted me to, I wouldn't be here now. Most of the girls I started with no longer play football," said Robi.
Just like every footballer, her dream is to play for a club in Europe.
