What began as a small group of girls with little football experience has grown into one of Kericho County’s most inspiring school sports success stories.
Kericho Day Secondary School became the first secondary school football team from the County to reach the Rift Valley Regional Games, where the all-girls team finished an impressive third position, despite limited training, sports gear and proper facilitation.
Competing against some of the region’s most established school teams, including eventual champions St Joseph’s Girls High School, Kitale and defending champions Nasokol Girls High School from West Pokot County, the Kericho Day side exceeded expectations in its maiden appearance at the regional games.
The Rift Valley Regional Games were held in Narok County from July 7 to 11, attracting some of the region’s top secondary school teams, competing for slots at the KSSSA National Games, which are set to be held from July 28 through August 2, 2026, at the M-PESA Foundation Academy, Thika, in Kiambu County.
In an interview with KNA, Lead Coach and football referee Drusilla Chepkemoi Memo said the team overcame humid weather and dusty playing conditions to defeat St. Teresa Girls High School of Kitale 5-0 in their opening match before drawing 0-0 against Itigo Girls Secondary School from Nandi County and winning 7-0 in a penalty shootout to advance to the semi-finals.
“The weather was very hot and the playing fields were dusty, but the girls gave their all. We beat St. Teresa Girls High School from Kitale 5-0 before drawing 0-0 against Itigo Girls Secondary School from Nandi County and winning 7-0 on penalties to reach the semi-finals.
Although we eventually finished third, the girls displayed great resilience and determination throughout the tournament,” said Memo.
She revealed that despite the team’s historic achievement, it continues to face a shortage of essential training and competition equipment, including footballs, playing kits and training uniforms, which she said are crucial to sustaining the team’s progress.
She added that the players also require meals during training sessions held over school holidays and mid-term breaks to enable them to train effectively and remain competitive.
“These players have proved they can compete with the best, despite limited resources. With proper equipment they can go even further and inspire many more young girls to pursue football. We need footballs, playing kits and support for meals during training sessions held over the school holidays and mid-term breaks so that the girls can continue pursuing their dream,” said Memo.
Memo said the idea of forming the girl’s football team was born in April 2024, while she was conducting football coaching sessions for fellow coaches at the Kericho Day Secondary School grounds.
Several female students from the school approached her, eager to learn the game, prompting Memo to seek their parents’ consent before enrolling them in the school football team and beginning their training.
Memo, who doubles as a Kenya Premier League (KPL) female referee in the South Rift region, revealed that with just 18 girls, fewer than 10 of whom had ever played football, the team embraced rigorous evening training after classes and throughout the school holidays.
She said the all-girls football team has since grown to 25 members, comprising students aged between 15 and 18 years who are balancing their senior secondary school education with a passion for football, despite limited resources.
Their determination bore fruit in June 2024, when they made their competitive debut at the zonal games; earning promotion to the sub-county championships where they edged Kapsoit Secondary School in a penalty shootout, to lift the title.
Memo said the team made its entry into secondary school football competitions in January 2025, by which time the players had been trained to play the key positions of goalkeeper, defender, midfielder and striker.
“Through consistent training, the girls have turned into competent goal keepers, defenders, midfielders and strikers, notwithstanding many of them having little or no prior experience in the sport. Currently my 25-member squad has three goalkeepers, six midfielders, eight strikers and eight defenders.” said Memo.
The all-girls team trains twice a week from 4pm to 5pm after classes on the school’s grounds under the watchful eye of Coach Memo. The players also dedicate part of their school holidays and mid-term breaks, to training as they strive to improve their skills and compete at a higher level.
Looking beyond the team’s historic regional campaign, Memo said her focus has now shifted to nurturing the next generation of football talent with several players expected to attend the Under 15 boys’ and girls’ pre-selection camps, scheduled for August 8-9 this year, ahead of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) African Schools Football Championships in Rwanda in September.
“Football has transformed these girls beyond the pitch. It has built their confidence, discipline and belief in themselves. Given the right support, I believe they can achieve even greater success and make Kericho County proud,” said Memo.
By Sarah Njagi
