A young girls’ soccer team from Isiolo County is appealing to Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba to help them secure a Sh500,000 cash prize they won after emerging as the winners of the ‘Talanta Hela’ tournament that was organized by the Ministry of sports in August this year.
According to the team Captain Halima Abubakar, the team is yet to receive the award and the ‘golden glove award’ for their goalkeeper despite making follow-ups.
‘Isiolo starlets’ participated in the regional tournament that comprised Marsabit and Samburu to emerge victorious in a strongly contested tournament.
“We have been following the matter with the County government but no one seems to assist us follow up for our hard earned prizes,” Abubakar said.
Abubakar also lamented lack of adequate fame kits, foot balls and other necessary equipment but praised Wabera Public Primary School for allowing them to use its playground for training.
“We call upon Governor Ibrahim Guyo, Senator Fatuma Dullo, Women Rep Mumina Bonaya , Isiolo North and South MPs Joseph Samal and Mohamed Tupi to lend us a hand the way they had been doing with the boys’ teams so that we can effectively participate in the forthcoming National tournament,” she added.
The teams Couch Sadam Abdi said it a pity that his players have not been rewarded after they won the regional tournament and wonders how they would take part in the ‘Talanta Hela’ national level competition scheduled for December without the cash reward they had planned to use in team’s preparation for the event.
“The girls have had challenges throughout the tournament but have luckily sealed through. We pray that the relevant authorities do their part to boost their morale as they proceed to the next level,” said Abdi.
He at the same time called on the political leadership and other well-wishers to support the young and promising girls’ soccer team which has become their occupation keeping away from idleness and other negative social vices.
Abdi also revealed that the vast talents present in the pastoralist communities sends some promising sporting future for the region but cautions that the talents risks being untapped should efforts to explore them remain unsupported.
