Africa-Press – Kenya. Eldoret Falcons coach Joshua Ariko is optimistic they will rise again and hope to return to the Kenya Women Premier League (KWPL) as soon as possible after they were relegated last season.
Falcons were relegated from the top tier for the first time after finishing bottom with no point in the eight-team Zone B league.
Ariko said they gave out three walk-overs thus earning an automatic relegation. According to Football Kenya Federation (FKF) rules, a team is automatically relegated once they fail to honour three consecutive matches.
“We are organising ourselves at the moment and we hope to return to the Premier League next season,” said Ariko. He attributed their relegation to the financial challenges the club was facing. “Considering our financial situation then, we could not manage to honour all fixtures,” he noted.
“For us to honour all matches across the country, we need a minimum of Sh2 million, which we couldn’t raise as a club because we are a community club,” said Ariko.
Due to lack of funds, the club has lost top players including goalkeeper Annedy Kundu, who signed for Lakatamia FC of Cyprus as well as defender Ruth Ingotsi.
Janet Bundi Moraa and Dorcas Shibeka joined Vihiga Queens and Thika Queens respectively among others who signed for other teams.
“This team has produced top players and we could not hold them since we did not have money to keep them here. They are human beings who need money to sustain their lives,” said Ariko.
The Eldoret-based club will now be playing in Division One as the league is set to kick off this weekend.
“I have high hopes that we shall return with a bang in the league though the second tier is equally very competitive. However, we are ready for the challenges ahead as we target the top tier,” added Ariko.
The club joined the Premier League in 2014, four years after women’s football was rolled out.
The team’s best position was in the 2019/2020 season when they finished fourth. They also produced the best goalkeeper in the country (Kundu) who did not concede any goal during Cecafa Championships.
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