Vihiga Queen’s head coach, Boniface Nyamunyamuh, has disclosed that the team is finalizing deals to sign eight new players in preparation for the upcoming Cecafa Club Championship scheduled for July in Kampala, Uganda.
Nyamunyamuh is determined to strengthen the squad ahead of the tournament, which will also serve as the qualifiers for the third edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League set to be held later this year in Ivory Coast.
Having clinched their fourth Kenyan Women’s Premier League (KWPL) title recently by surpassing rivals Gaspo Women, Vihiga earned their spot in the regional tournament. With 55 points accumulated, the team from Kidundu in Vihiga County is now focused on conquering the Cecafa region once again.
“We are currently seeking to bring in eight new players to reinforce our squad for the Cecafa tournament. We are in advanced discussions with several players, and if all goes well, we plan to unveil them on Thursday, June 15. It is worth mentioning that all the players we are in talks with are locally based. We decided to focus on local talent to avoid complications with acquiring International Transfer Certificates (ITCs) and ensuring smooth logistics before the start of the Cecafa tournament,” Nyamunyamuh confirmed.
“I presented a proposal to the management for eight new players across various positions, including a reserve goalkeeper. Even if we manage to secure half of the proposed number, I would be content. Additionally, we are also in talks with Jentrix Shikangwa, a forward from Simba Queens in Tanzania, to see if she will rejoin our side. Shikangwa previously played for us during the inaugural Cecafa tournament in 2021, where we emerged victorious and secured qualification for the first-ever CAF Women’s Champions League held in Cairo, Egypt,” Nyamunyamuh added.
Nyamunyamuh, who took over as head coach in August 2021 following the departure of his predecessor, Alex Alumirah, who currently serves as the Sports Director at Dodoma-based side Fountain Gate Princess, also revealed that the team will resume training at Kudundu Stadium on Monday, June 19, after a two-week break.
“We will be returning to our training camp on Monday, and I believe the two-week break has been beneficial for the players to recover from the pressure of the recently concluded KWPL. Some players were assigned different roles during the break, which I hope helped them maintain their fitness levels.
We had proposed to the management to hold the training camp away from our home area, but that matter is currently being discussed, and I cannot provide any updates at this moment,” Nyamunyamuh stated.
Vihiga Queens are anticipating a challenging Cecafa competition, particularly from newly crowned Tanzania Women Premier League champions, JKT Queens, and Kampala Queens from Uganda.
