Vihiga Queens head coach Boniface Nyamunyamu/ HANDOUT Vihiga Queens are set for a major rebuild after head coach Boniface Nyamunyamu admitted the club fell below expectations following a disappointing fifth-place finish this season.
Vihiga Queens head coach Boniface Nyamunyamu/ HANDOUT The Legacy Makers concluded their campaign on Sunday with a 3-2 victory over Gideon Starlets to finish on 31 points, 18 behind champions-elect Kenya Police Bullets, who complete their season against Madira Soccer Assassins this weekend.
Having started the campaign with ambitions of reclaiming the title, Vihiga Queens remained firmly in contention during the first leg before injuries and limited squad depth derailed their challenge in the second round.
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Nyamunyamu admitted the lack of depth proved costly after several key players were sidelined during the decisive stages of the season.
“I’m not a happy man with how we performed this season because our objective was to win the title. We will review the season, work on our mistakes and plan for next season because we have to go back to the top,” said Nyamunyamu.
The Vihiga-based side began the campaign amid uncertainty after influential players, including Swaumu Musungu and Christine Adhiambo, departed for rivals Kibera Soccer Women.
Despite the setbacks, they opened the season with a convincing 3-0 victory over Bungoma Queens and remained within touching distance of the leaders after the first leg.
However, injuries to key players, led by defender Ruth Khasoa, disrupted their momentum at a crucial stage of the season.
“We lost our key players and that affected us a lot. Those are circumstances we have to deal with,” Nyamunyamu added.
Vihiga Queens also suffered another major setback after being docked six points for joining other clubs in forfeiting matches during protests against what teams termed unfair treatment of women’s football by Football Kenya Federation.
The coach now says strengthening the attacking department will be a priority ahead of next season after being forced to deploy midfielders Martha Amunyolet and Anita Namata in advanced roles.
“Our emphasis on recruitment will go into attacking because we have had to use Martha Amunyolet and Anita Namata, who are midfielders, in attacking roles. We have to bounce back,” he said.
The fifth-place finish marked Vihiga Queens’ worst league performance in more than a decade and signalled the end of an era for one of Kenya’s most dominant women’s football sides.
