Muhambe adamant struggling Madira will avoid relegation

Madira Soccer Assassins coach Francis Muhambe is still hopeful that they will survive in the Kenya Women Premier League this season, despite their uninspiring run so far.

Madira last weekend lost 3-0 to Bungoma Queens, leaving them at 10th with only 13 points after 15 matches but Muhambe is still unbowed.

With no league action this weekend, Muhambe will test his charges in a friendly as he looks to sharpen them ahead of next week’s duel.

"We are planning to play a friendly match over this weekend to make some corrections in different after losing Bungoma Queens. That defeat was a big mistake because we can’t afford to drop more points at this stage," he said.

Madira, who are playing in the top league for the first time, need to win at least two matches of the remaining four to avoid relegation.

"I want to assure our supporters that we will not be relegated. Mathematically we have a chance to survive based on the performance of other teams in the relegation battle. Winning our remaining matches will boost our survival hopes, especially our two matches at home," the coach said. 

Meanwhile, Francis Muhambe who had promised to lift this year's Chapa Dimba national title with Ebwali Secondary School is unbowed despite exiting the competitions in the semis.

Muhambe says he has achieved his vision with the Vihiga based school team, attributing his failure to beat Pasca Langa in semis to the hand injury his number one goalkeeper sustained. Pasaca Langa went on beat Ebwali 4-0.

"Ebwali is the only small school that competes with big brothers in soccer. Ebwali is the third best team in the Chapa Dimba national competitions. The injury of our first goalie contributed to the 4-0 thrashing as we sought services of another keeper," he stated saying Ebwali has equally achieved their objective this year.

"We have gotten something and have enough uniform. School games is all about exposure but Chapa Dimba on top of exposure is a token," he said.

Muhambe says he will not pile pressure on his charges as they shift focus to Secondary Schools Term II games.

"In 2022 I wanted to lift the KSSSA title with Ebwali for the first time, thereafter give myself a break of five years. I have been performing with small schools that are financially handicapped but my dream is to take a renowned established secondary school to the KSSSA football competitions," he revealed.

"You become a national champion, you become an enemy of everyone…," he added.

Ebwali is among other school teams that have embarked on preparations for next term’s football competitions.

Former Vihiga County Girls football champions Ibubi Girls  team have begun their friendlies with high profiled teams with a view of going past the Western region according to the team's coach Newton Ogada.

Butere Girls beat Ibubi Girls 1-0 to deny the Maroon Ladies an opportunity to represent Vihiga at the nationals last year.

Additional reporting by Brian Kaitano