Doreen Nabwire (third right standing) made her return to the national team for the first time since 2012. PHOTO/COURTESY
NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 11- Doreen Nabwire marked her return to the national women’s football team for the first time since 2012, playing for 68 minutes as Harambee Starlets began their CECAFA campaign with a 4-0 victory over hosts Uganda in Jinja.
Nabwire’s last involvement with Starlets was four years ago when she skippered the team that lost 5-0 to Ethiopia in a friendly match in Addis Ababa, but her return was a happy one this time round.
“I feel honored to be back wearing the national team jersey not as a Team Manager but as a player. The coach trusted me and told me he believes I can add something to the team in this CECAFA campaign and all the way to the Cup of Nations. I’m delighted that we won today,” Nabwire, who spent most of her playing career playing professional football in Germany, told Capital Sport.
Starlets had a good start to the match, though nervy and they had to wait till the 21st minute to open the scores through Mary Kinuthia.
The girls continued the job in the second period and on-form Esse Akida made it 2-0 four minutes after the break.
Harambee Starlets left back Wendy Achieng controls the ball against a Uganda Crested Cranes opponent. PHOTO/COURTESY
Substitute Corazon Aquino who had come on for Nabwire in the 68th minute extended the lead five minutes after coming on before Akida completed the job with her second in the 89th minute.
“It’s good to have started with a win because this gives us a lot of confidence. We had started a bit slow because both sides were showing they want it. But once we got the first goal, things became easier,” Nabwire said.
“We look forward to the second match, we know it is going to be tough but our aim remains to come out top in this tournament.”
Starlets’ next match will be on Tuesday against Burundi who won 10-1 against Zanzibar in their opening match. A win for the Kenyan in this tie will take them into the quarter finals.
