Naise now wants to be a football girl
Amira Sailors forward Pauline Naise smiles during the interview with Nation Sport at Nation Centre on November 2 2017. PHOTO | FILE NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- The former Oshwal Academy and St Christopher’s Secondary School sports teacher challenged players to have a fall back plan in case their sports careers encountered problems.
- The former Vihiga Leeds player said most of the players were currently going through hard times coursed by to coronavirus pandemic because of failing to invest.
Maverick sports woman Pauline Naise is not ready to give up playing for the Kenya national women’s football and hockey teams despite selectors overlooking her last year.
Naise, who is adept at both sports, said she had not reached her peak in either game just yet.
However, because of geographical challenges, she has opted to fully concentrate on football for now.
In hockey, she plays as forward for Kenya Hockey Union Premier League side Amira Sailors, while in football she features for Football Kenya Federation women’s top league side Kisumu All Starlets as an attacking midfielder.
She joined All Starlets last year from Zetech University.
Naise has played for national women’s hockey team since making her debut in 2011 before being dropped for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games Africa qualifiers in South Africa last year.
Kenya failed to book the lone ticket to Tokyo, finishing fourth in the five-nation tournament.
The St Cecilia Misikhu Secondary School alumnus made the preliminary Harambee Starlets team for 2016 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
“I was disappointed I did not make the squad that went to South Africa for the qualifiers. I went back to the drawing board and I’m at a higher level now.
“Besides, I have also invested in business where I run the Kampi Ya Lucki cottages in Kakamega and in a way I have been able to keep my life going,” said Naise.
“But I’m more keen on my football growth now. That’s why I signed for Kisumu All Starlets.
Shuttling between Nairobi and Kakamega to play for Zetech was taking a toll on me considering I had relocated to Kakamega last year.
With Kisumu Starlets it’s cheaper and easy to train with them. I believe football has more openings and I will direct more energy to that sport.”
The former Oshwal Academy and St Christopher’s Secondary School sports teacher challenged players to have a fall back plan in case their sports careers encountered problems.
The former Vihiga Leeds player said most of the players were currently going through hard times coursed by to coronavirus pandemic because of failing to invest.
