Kenya u19 Women
Kenya’s systematic approach to youth cricket development pays dividends for under-19 women’s national team
Over the last few years Cricket Kenya has successfully utilised and expanded the work that Cricket Without Boundaries ambassador Nick Oluoch has been overseeing across 3 regional hubs in Muranga, Nakuru and Nairobi, rolling it out across 9 counties in Kenya. Nick has worked tirelessly for CWB for many years and had a stint as interim coach of national women’s team in 2019/20 so has had a particularly keen eye on the women’s game in Kenya. Nick’s hard work saw him being asked by Cricket Kenya to support the expansion of the cricket hubs with the creation of coaching forums and shared plans, following the same path as the 3 existing hubs and developing cricket further across Kenya.
Nick Oluoch working with Awe Mumbua, one of the women’s under-19 national squad.
The effort put in by Nick and the other ambassadors/coaches was shown to have borne fruit when the recent women’s under-19 world cup qualifier was held in Rwanda. Malawi and Kenya successfully qualified to move to the final tier 1 stage of African qualification and a large proportion of the Kenya squad came through the system overseen by Nick and his coaches.
Another win for Kenya in the tier 2 African under-19 women’s qualifiers!
9 girls from the squad came from the 3 hubs that are supported by CWB and MCC Foundation in Muranga, Nakuru and Nairobi. Here we look briefly at how these nine girls have got involved in cricket and developed their games to such an extent that they’re now representing their country!
Muranga hub
Lucy Wanjiru started her cricket while in Ndeera primary school, she is now at secondary school and still actively involved and practicing her cricket. For her, cricket has given her an opportunity to explore and visit different counties within Kenya.
Nakuru hub
Marion Jacinta Agoi is a left-handed seamer and bats right handed. She has really broken through by becoming the sole representative of Nakuru cricket....so far.
Nairobi hub
The girls from the Nairobi hub come from the school programme where tournaments were arranged and exposure to the game was ramped up with participation in the Nairobi league, resulting in their playing standard improving.
Janet Nthenya practicing her bowling.
Janet Nthenya comes from a hard economic background and has been supported through her secondary education by CWB trustee, Gary Shankland. She now has a bright future in cricket and outside.
Milan in the nets and still practicing her calling!
Nick started coaching Milan Zainabu when she was just 7 years old in primary school. She has shown great maturity and progressed to play with the national team while her education is fully sponsored through the governor’s office.
Awe Mumbua began playing cricket for the simply enjoyment of the game.
Awe Mumbua shares a similar story to Milan. She has a hard family background and began playing cricket as simply something to look forward to, while she tries hard to reach her aims academically.
Mary Atieno enjoying a casual game bare footed.
With only a year left in her secondary education Mary Atieno was nearly forced to give up her education but through support from a group of well-wishers she made it through. Cricket has given her the opportunity to balance her lift between study and sport and her future looks bright.
Neeza Divine settled in Kenya having arrived as a refugee from the Republic of the Congo.
Neeza Divine is a refugee whose family escaped the political unrest in Congo Brazzaville and came to Kenya. At school she found Nick running a cricket session and asked if she could join. That simple conversation was the start of a cricketing journey that has taken her all the way to the under-19 national squad. With her family background she was unable to make the national team but Nick and his wife decided to let her use their family name as her second guardians so that she can represent the nation that she loves and admires.
Roshelle Atamba tossing up as captain of her side at a recent match in Nairobi.
When visiting Kakamega County to run a Cricket Kenya development programme, Nick met Roshelle Atamba and saw her potential immediately. She was given an opportunity to come and explore cricket further. Although inexperienced, her talent has seen her make the under-19 national squad.
Tania Angela practices in the nets.
Tania Angela shocked her parents by showing a passion for cricket. Her parents are a formidable force in the Kenyan football scene but Tania loves cricket! Although her parents find it hard to comprehend, they have been truly supportive of her as she’s developed her cricket all the way to national honours.
The captain of the under-19 team, Melvin Khagoitsa, has also benefited from many hours of Nick’s coaching. The journey of the under-19 Kenya women’s team hasn’t always been easy but for many their cricketing origins come from a Cricket Without Boundaries session run by Nick who has been working hard as a CWB Ambassador developing cricketing talent across Kenya since 2010.
Having won their way through from the tier 2 competition, the under-19 Kenyan women now have the chance to play in the tier 1 African qualifier but, with only one team able to qualify for the 2025 under-19 World Cup it will be tough for the Kenyan team in a group that includes Namibia, Rwanda and Uganda. The tournament starts on Sunday 22nd September and the winner of the final on 29th September will qualify.
The games will be held at the awe-inspiring Gahanga Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda. Good luck to every single player taking part from all nations.
