Nyamunyamu lauds Masungo for her show-stealing debut

Vihiga Queens head coach Boniface Nyamunyamu has hailed new signing Swaumu Masungo following her impressive and unforgettable display on her debut.

The former Nyakach Girls High School attacker scored and assisted in a dramatic 2-2 draw against Ulinzi Starlets in the FKF Women Premier League (FKF-WPL), a game Vihiga Queens threw away a 2-0 lead to draw with the FKF Cup defending Champions.

Nyamunyamu believes Masungo’s arrival will take the team to new heights as they target their fifth Premier League title.

“Masungo is a good player, young and ambitious. What we can do is motivate her, help her improve and become a better player,” Nyamunyamu told Citizen Digital.

Masungo made her debut alongside fellow Nyakach Girls alumni, Junior Starlets right-back Christine Adhiambo and midfielder Morine Eseri.

Adhiambo is fresh off the historic U-17 World Cup campaign with Kenya in the Dominican Republic, where they registered a 2-1 win against Mexico in their last group match.

She was also one of the stand-out performers in the Kenyan side, going toe to toe with Chelsea women’s wonderkid Lola Sangita Brown when Junior Starlets clashed with England.

Lola, 17, signed her first professional contract at Chelsea immediately after the World Cup in November, while Adhiambo made a well-deserved move by later joining football powerhouses Vihiga Queens where she walked straight into the starting XI.

Other two new recruits from Nyakach Girls, Mercyline Awino and Mercy Akoth, were unused substitutes.

And while the draw against Ulinzi was frustrating, Nyamunyamu blamed it on his inexperienced young squad.

Vihiga had found an opener through Masungo in the 35th minute before setting up Diana Cherono for the second goal six minutes later to lead 2-0 at halftime.

Ulinzi had different plans in the second half as they struck two goals in two minutes through winger Joy Kinglady and midfielder Ruth Aturo to cancel out Vihiga’s two goals and secure an important point.

“We have a young squad and we are rebuilding. We have to learn from our mistakes and work on our mental strength. I’m confident after three to four matches our new signings will have gelled and we shall not give up the title chase,” noted Nyamunyamu.

With the race for the top spot heating up, Vihiga remain third, just four points behind leaders Police Bullets FC.

Police Bullets had already secured an important 1-0 win over Kisped Queens on Saturday to cement their place at the top of the table.

Kibera Soccer Ladies on the other hand thumped Bungoma Queens 4-1 on Sunday to pile pressure on Bullets, with the two sides level on 25 points but the reigning champions have a superior goal difference.