Bunyore Starlets, a women football team based in Luanda, Vihiga County, earned promotion to the Women Premier League (WPL) under the stewardship of Daniel Arunga as head coach, a primary school teacher.
The team, formed to keep young Luanda girls busy through football, as well as instill life skills and avoid vices like teen pregnancies, won the 2021 Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Division One Zone B League.
In 2019, Bunyore Starlets narrowly missed promotion after finishing third in zone B behind Nakuru Queens and Society Empowerment Project Ladies based in Oyugis in Homa Bay County.
Arunga, a teacher at Esalwa Primary School, told Education News in a recent interview that he used his long time experience to improve women football, which for decades had been disparaged.
“Ladies Football has been ignored for very many years, yet both boys and girls are equal. After many years in male soccer, I decided to use the skills to improve the women’s game,” said Arunga.
He said his team is a blend of school leavers, school girls, and college and university students, and they welcome anyone with a passion and talent.
“Through Bunyore Starlets, we have reduced cases of early pregnancies and drug and substance abuse by giving holistic growth to them. Through this team, Bunyoreland is known very well countrywide,” he said.
Born in Itumbu Ematindo village in Emuhaya, the tactician narrated that before being a sports teacher, he had had a keen interest in sports right from primary school, saying he was motivate by his siblings who were all into sports.
Perhaps among the very few of his kind in the country, he has made tremendous contribution to school co-curricular activities since his first appointment by Teachers Service Commission (TSC) in 2005.
“I was appointed a sports teacher immediately I was posted to Mungoye Primary School. Some of my notable products are Cunston Osumba who featured for Kisumu All Stars and currently turns out for Luanda Villa,” said Arunga.
Arunga, also known for his sleek competence in teaching Kiswahili, Science and Social studies, said he is keen to identify talent, nurture it and encourage young people to reach their full potential and come to the limelight.
He tells us how he balances his time in the teaching service and coaching.
“Bunyore Starlets has a big technical bench where we plan programmes for training and we have coaches who are there full time. I offer technical advice on critical issues but I am always available on weekends and evenings to monitor training on recorded videos and advise accordingly,” narrated Arunga.
Asked about his future plans for the team, this is what he had to say: “We plan to make the team a professional side, but this can only happen if we land sponsorship deals.”
By Roy Hezron
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