The Kenya Women’s Premier League (KWPL) champions, Kenya Police Bullets, are gearing up for their debut in the CAF Women’s Champions League CECAFA qualifiers. To ensure thorough preparation, the team will be setting up a training camp in Uganda from August 3, 2024, before heading to the tournament in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Preparations and Training Camp
Kenya Police Bullets’ Chief Executive Officer, Chris Oguso, revealed that the decision to camp in Uganda was made after careful consideration between Uganda and Tanzania. The team will remain in Uganda until August 12, before moving directly to Addis Ababa for the qualifiers.
“We were torn between Tanzania and Uganda, but we finally decided to camp in Uganda. The team will leave on August 3 and camp there until August 12, when they will head straight to Addis Ababa,” Oguso explained.
Tournament Details
The regional tournament is set to commence on August 17 and will run until September 4. The Bullets have been placed in a challenging Group A alongside Ethiopia’s Commercial Bank (CBE), Yei Joint FC from South Sudan, Warriors Queens from Zanzibar, and Rwanda’s Rayon Sport Women.
Oguso expressed confidence in the team’s ability to qualify for the CAF Women’s Champions League. He emphasized the advantage of having support from their men’s team counterparts, who will also be in Ethiopia for their CAF Confederations Cup match against Coffee of Ethiopia.
“I want to thank our Ministry of Defence PS Raymond Omollo, who promised to assist us financially ahead of the trip. I believe the ladies will perform well as we aim to win CECAFA and qualify for the fourth edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League,” Oguso stated.
Squad Enhancements
In preparation for the tournament, the Bullets have strengthened their squad by signing five new players. These include striker Emily Moranga and defender Norah Ann from Vihiga Queens, midfielder Jane Hato from Mathare United Women, former FK Apolonia Fier (Albania) midfielder Lourna Nyarinda Nyabuto, and former Gokulam Kerala (India) forward Bertha Omita. The team is also eyeing Zetech Sparks’ Samantha Akinyi.
Group Matches Schedule
Kenya Police Bullets will kick off their campaign against Zanzibar’s Warriors Queens on the opening day of the tournament at Addis Ababa Stadium. This will be followed by a match against Yei Joint FC three days later. Their crucial match against Ethiopia’s CBE is scheduled for August 23, and they will wrap up their group stage matches with a clash against Rayon Sport Women on August 29.
Group B features Tanzania’s Simba Queens, P.V.P Buyenzi from Burundi, Uganda’s Kawempe Muslim Ladies, and FAD Djibouti.
Conclusion
Kenya Police Bullets are set to embark on a rigorous training regime in Uganda as they prepare for a competitive CECAFA tournament. With new signings and robust support, the team is optimistic about their chances of qualifying for the CAF Women’s Champions League. As the tournament draws near, all eyes will be on the Bullets to see how they perform against some of the best teams in the region.