The post-election violence in 2007 in Kenya changed the lives, for the worst, of many across the country.
Five-year-old Jane Njeri, who was living in Eldoret with her family, lost her father in the clashes. Her family, together with others, relocated to Naivasha and settled in an IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camp.
Life became tough.
Through the years, though, Njeri’s interest in football did not wane. She would be seen playing football any chance she got, whether at school or at home. In 2016, she got a full scholarship to join Njabini Girls Secondary School.
“At school, I had the chance to play with other girls, and this gave me joy,” says Njeri. “Our coach, Emman Gullit, noticed that I was good at football, and he nurtured my talent. At that time, it was the best thing that had happened in my life.”
Despite enjoying football, Njeri and her fellow players did not have a team and would wait for whatever friendly matches they could participate in.
Chapa Dimba na Safaricom would give Njeri, then in Form Three, and her friends a reason to set up a team in order to participate in the 2018 tournament.
Through her coach’s insistence, they registered for Chapa Dimba, which saw her team participate in 2019 all through to 2020 before COVID-19 disrupted the tournament.
Over time, Njeri’s talent grew, and she stood out during the central region Chapa Dimba na Safaricom national finals, second edition. She scored six goals and became the top scorer, which saw her named in the All-Star team that was rewarded with a 10-day trip to Spain for professional training.
“I had prepared the girls well enough in readiness for tournaments and them securing spots to attend training camps in Spain,” said Emman.
“We were in disbelief. It would be my first time on a plane, which was scary at first, but I couldn’t wait to be in a new country,” Njeri recalls.
Spain was a great experience for them as they got to experience football guidance by coaches with La Liga experience as well as gaining technical and professional skills.
After the Spain trip, she was subsequently called to the national women’s team, Harambee Starlets, which was at the time preparing for an invitational tournament in Turkey.
Njeri made Starlets’ final squad to Turkey.
Njeri attributes her motivation to keep on playing to her mother. “Knowing that she will be okay and catered for if I keep playing pushes me. My coach also plays a part, especially through his pep talks.”
After Chapa Dimba, the two-time top scorer, who currently plays for Falling Waters FC in Nyahururu, hopes to play professionally for FC Barcelona in future.
As the tournament returns, she knows only too well how impactful football has been in her life and urges other budding footballers to sign up and give the competition a try as it embarks on its fourth season.
