There was pomp and colour at Mwira Comprehensive after Mwira Junior Secondary School soccer team for girls won the national championship that was held at Kakamega High School in the Western Region.
According to the team coach Mr Edgar Akhonya, hard work, teamwork, unity of the team, determined girls and support from the Headteacher is what has seen them clinch the national championship.
Mr Akhonya who took over the team early this year avers that as much as they won the national national championship, they had to grapple with a myriad of challenges as a team. The challenges include:
- Many player players didn’t how to play with boots (shoes)
- They had never had uniforms, boots and stockings.
- UPI was a challenge as the games were strictly for junior secondary and some players’ data were not correctly captured in the system.
- Tough competition especially in the regionals as other counties like Busia and Bungoma presented formidable teams and those were a threat to them but were focused on winning the trophy.
The school headteacher Mr Afred Otieno has been hailed for his impressive management style and the support that he accorded the team which has seen them clinch the national championship.
Mr Otieno who was delocalised from Bungoma in 2018 has seen Mwira Comprehensive School book the space at the national stage.
According to him, he understood what the team wanted and timely provided it.
“It has been a challenge but as the patron of the team and the head of the institution, I don’t want to demoralise my girls and indeed they have made us proud,” an elated Mr Otieno said.
He added, “When we started at the zonal level, the girls staged a very impressive performance and I assured them to work very hard so that they could fly outside the country should they win the national championship which was very possible.”
The girls have worked very hard under the able coach Mr Edgar Akhonya who has effectively handled the team.
However, the headteacher noted the dream of the girls flying out of the country which has been the motivating factor behind the impressive performance in soccer has been abruptly cut short by the corrupt officials.
“All along we knew that our soccer team would be representing the country in the East African Championship in Uganda, but we were baffled that a team was selected to represent the country in Uganda yet we have worked so hard for this,” said Mr Otieno.
He noted when you pick students from primary and junior secondary to make a team, it beats logic on which team will be representing.
“It is abnormal and the officials have killed the dreams and morale of so many youths and they better resign,” he added.
He appealed to stakeholders like Talanta Academy, Booksellers, Banks and well-wishers to help them nurture talents in the school.
He said the school has already identified the many talents around and wants to nurture the girls and develop them into better footballers while aiming at retaining the trophy.
Mayoni Ward MCA, Hon. Fredrick Watitwa was hailed for his immense support to the team and he even physically appeared in the field to give moral support to the girls.
“I want to thank my colleague head of institutions especially KEPSHA chair Matungu who supported the team with a handsome token, Mr Sumba Julius, Headteacher Bubambula Comprehensive School and Mr Dickson Osundwa of Bukosia Primary for the immense support,” Mr Otieno said.
He further observed that gone are the days when trophies used to be awarded without a token and challenged the organisers to at least give out something to motivate the participating team.
