WPL: Police fire stray bullets, waste chance to stretch lead

With six matches left till the end of the 2024/25 season, the title race has heated up after match day 14.

The league will take a two-week break from February 17 to 26 to pave the way for the Fifa international women’s window.

Defending champions Kenya Police Bullets, leading with 29 points from 14 matches, dropped crucial points in a 1-1 draw against Ulinzi at Ruaraka Grounds on Saturday.

Second-placed Kibera Soccer Women capitalised on home advantage, thrashing relegation-threatened Bunyore Starlets 5-0 at Don Bosco Grounds in Nairobi to keep pace with Bullets despite having a game in hand.

Kibera Soccer Women are on 28 points. Bullets took the lead in the 66th minute when midfielder Dianah Wacera capitalized on a defensive error by Ulinzi’s Barasa Tabitha.

Ulinzi equalised in the 78th minute with a free kick from striker Fasilah Adhiambo after captain Sherly Angachi was fouled just outside the box.

“It was a good game, but we started slowly. Now, we want to focus on our remaining matches, taking it one game at a time,” said Bullets assistant coach Lawrence Suji.

Starlets coach Collins Oduor, who replaced Stephen Ochollah in December, noted, “I had never faced them before.

In the second half, my players followed instructions. We’ll focus on one game at a time and address our weaknesses during the break.”

Ulinzi remains fourth with 23 points and Oduor is unbeaten, having secured a 5-0 win over Wadadia, a 2-0 victory against Bunyore Starlets, a 1-1 draw with Kisumu Allstarlets, and a 2-2 draw with Vihiga Queens two weeks ago.

The teams are also fighting for the Golden Boot and Golden Glove. Bullets striker Rebecca Okwaro tops the log with 11 goals, the same as Bungoma’s Catherine Khaemba. Ulinzi winger Joy KingLady is fourth with seven goals to her name.

Bullets’ Annette Kundu and Vihiga’s Ruth Aturo each have seven clean sheets, one shy of Kibera’s Vivian Shiyonzo, while Ulinzi’s Judith Osimbo has five.

Second-placed Kibera Soccer Women capitalised on home advantage, thrashing relegation-threatened Bunyore Starlets 5-0 at Don Bosco Grounds in Nairobi, keeping pace with Bullets despite having a game in hand.

New signing midfielder Faith Mboya stamped authority with a hat-trick, scoring in the third, 26th, and 74th minutes. In contrast, defender Medina Abubakar and midfielder Lucky Ochanda added goals in the 6th and 52nd minutes.

Mboya now has seven goals, and Abubakar scored her first for the team. Goalkeeper Vivian Shiyonzo secured a clean sheet, leading the league with nine in 14 matches.

Midfielder Diana Cheron’s goal in the 70th minute gave four-time champions Vihiga Queens a win against Mombasa Olympic Ladies at Makande Primary School in Mombasa, keeping them third in the standings with 27 points from 14 matches.

Olympic remains in the relegation zone at 10th with nine points, the same as Bunyore in 11th place.

Elsewhere, the match between bottom-placed Wadadia Women and Trinity Starlets at Mumias Sports Complex in Kakamega County was not played as Wadadia issued a walkover due to financial difficulties, allowing Trinity to claim three points and two goals. 

On other Saturday results, Kisumu Allstarlets FC played to a 0-0 draw against Bungoma Queens FC at Moi Stadium in Kisumu as Zetech Sparks settled for a 2-2 Kisped Queens at Imani Stadium in Ruiru, Kiambu.

Midfielders Janet Faith Muli and Christine Awuor scored for Sparks in the 67th and 74th minutes as midfielder Laura Atsabina netted a brace for Kisped in the second and 44th minutes of the match.

Sunday results

Mombasa Olympic 0 Vihiga Queens 1
Wadadia Women 0 Trinity Starlets 2