Starlets ace Katungwa urges support for womens football

Harambee Starlets striker Elizabeth Katungwa has urged county governments across the country to support footballers from all genders without discrimination in order to lift the standard of the women’s game.

Katungwa, who plays for Swedish club FC Dalhein, has paid tribute to the Kwale County Government for its role in her career growth and paid special tribute to Governor Salim Mvurya for laying down support programs for women football.

She helped Kwale County to win the Kenya Youth Inter-County Sports Association Games three times in 2016, 2018 and 2019.

“I hope I will not be the only female footballer from Kwale to go professional because my hope is to see the girl child getting more opportunities and thriving,” Katungwa said.

Every year the county government of Kwale organizes a talent search tournament through the county players training program. Selected players go to camp to be coached by qualified coaches.

Katungwa was the star of the Kwale Girls team that made history in 2018 by winning the Nationals and East Africa games. She went on to be voted MVP at the nationals and top scorer at the East Africa School games with six goals.

At Dalhein, Katungwa and her fellow Starlets striker Mary Kinuthia helped the club gain promotion to the country’s second-tier league.

“I am really happy to have contributed to this team and my next dream is to help the team qualify for the country’s top league in our first attempt from Division One next season,” she said.

In the seven matches Katungwa played in, FC Dalhein beat IFK Hanige 4-0, FC Lindhagen 4-1, Lidingo 3-1 and P18IK 5-2 but lost to FC Djursholm 3-1 and Bele Barkeby 5-2 in second leg matches.

Katungwa, 21, also plays for the Dalheim Youth team which is currently playing in the third Division where in three matches has scored six times and providing four assists.

In the youth team, she plays in her preferred role as a striker.