Bunyore Starlets Player Exodus Leads to Nightmare Start of Season

Misery continues to pile on the struggling Bunyore Starlets, as they are the only team yet to win a match in the FKF Women’s Premier League this season. The Luanda based outfit has lost all the four matches played and have all the markings of a club in turmoil. Currently, Bunyore Starlets finds itself with an interim manager and are out looking for a head coach.

This poor run of the results leaves Bunyore Starlets at the foot of the table with zero points. On this run, they have conceded ten goals while scoring only one goal.  The team played this season's opening match against the recently renamed Trinity Starlets (formerly known as Nakuru Queens), and lost 3-0. In the second  league match, which was their first home match, they were overpowered by the league heavyweights Kenya Police Bullets 2-0. 

Thereafter, Kibera Soccer Women delivered a humiliating 3-0 defeat to Bunyore Starlets in front of their own fans. For  their fourth match, they squandered a 1-0 halftime lead against a struggling Wadadia side, eventually losing 2-1 away from home.

Key Off Season Departures

One reason for Bunyore Starlet's struggles is the significant player and coaching staff turnover during the off-season. Timothy Ondeko, last season's head coach, moved to Shabana FC  to serve as the physical conditioning coach. Ondeko’s  assistant coach, Absolom Mariga, and goalkeeper trainer, Brian Ongonda, also exited the club.

Nearly three-quarters of the team's key players departed the club. Becky Misango and Bracksides Itambo transferred to Bungoma Queens, a move influenced by scholarship opportunities offered by the Sangalo Institute. 

Eve Chemutai, Agnes Olesi, Cynthia Okwado, and Tacy Olembo joined Bandari Queens, a team competing in the National Women's Super League. At the time, the club's chief executive officer, Zacharia Amakhana, said "Most of our key players have moved to NSL and I can't explain why. Reasons are well known to our players,".

Noel Shilachilo moved  to Tanzanian Women's Premier League Side, Fountain Gate Princess. Euphresia Khakasi, Christabel Mungeresa, Alice Musungu, are other notable names who also left the club.

To replace the departed players, the management opted to sign young talent, bringing in twelve new players. The club chairman Moses Mabwa, believed that their new approach of signing young, yet talented players, will provide sustainability in the club, for years to come.

He said “I want to sign young players ready to grow and be nurtured by the team. We had indiscipline issues with some players and embracing young talent will help us overcome this coming season.” 

The club’s chairman also added that the departure of key players will help balance books at the Vihiga county based side. Bunyore Startlets is among clubs that receive funding from Vihiga County Sports Fund. a kitty that was slashed by 75% in this financial year.

Bunyore’s New Coach Resigns

Before the season started, the former Kenya international Nick Aketch was appointed as head coach and Venenderasah Musungu was appointed to deputize him. George Abiola became the new goalkeeper trainer. The ambitious Nick Aketch aimed to achieve great things with the club but things didn't turn out as expected. 

Nick Akecth unveiling

Just after overseeing two league matches, against Trinity Starlets and Police Bullets, coach Aketch resigned from his role. He claimed lack of support and antagonistic environment led to his abrupt departure. In a statement following his resignation on October 13, 2024, the former Kisumu All Stars head coach said: “Kindly be notified that due to the antagonistic environment at Bunyore Starlets FC and inadequate support to aid me in achieving my set goals for the club, I’d been compelled to step down as the head coach of the club yesterday, immediately after the match against Kenya Police.” 

Chairman Mabwa expressed surprise at the resignation telling the media, “I have learned about Nick Aketch's departure via social media. Although he has largely been unreachable, I managed to talk to him this Tuesday on phone and I expect that stakeholders will be briefed after this weekend on the wayforward,"

Since then, assistant coach Venenderasah Musungu has been leading the team while the club searches for a new head coach. Various names have been linked to the position including former Assanins coach Francis Muhambe  who is currently with Ebwali FC.

With a long season ahead, Bunyore Starlets have an opportunity to turn their fortunes around. Their next match against Kisumu All Starlets, who have only one win, could be a pivotal moment to reinvigorate their campaign. Come the January transfer market, heavy recruitment will be required as the squad needs some reinforcement to add some experience to the young squad.