Congratulations to our 2015 High School Graduates!!
Graduating High School is no small feat for many of our girls who come from poor, rural homes, often attending a run-down ill-equipped primary school.
In November, six Suba Lakers completed their high school education by
taking the KCSE; Kenyan Certificate of Secondary Education. A huge
congratulations to Eliver Awuor, Caren Akeyo, Dorthy
Adhambio, Damaris Awino, Alicent Awour and Raysher Jedida!
We
are so proud of these girls for their efforts to work hard in school and
overcome enormous odds to finish secondary school.
The Suba Lakers Football Club provides opportunities for girls in Mbita, Kenya to develop their God-given talents and potential. With one of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in Africa, Mbita is a difficult place for a young girl to grow up. We use football as a means to impact their lives physically, socially, academically and spiritually.
December 7, 2015
August 11, 2015
A Special Visit from America!
Joe and Daneen also traveled to the rural places outside of Kisii to attend the Secondary School Regional Ball Games. Of our 24 girls currently in secondary school, 14 of them were playing with their school teams at this Championship. Joe and Daneen had a wonderful time getting to watch each of them play and spend some time together between matches over the 2-day tournament. Even though it was brief, we were all very grateful for this special time with them again.
May 12, 2015
Suba Laker Day May 2015
Primary school girls, secondary school girls and even
some college girls participated in the Suba Laker Day on Saturday, May 2,
2015. Eighteen of them had recently
competed against each other in the KYFA Nationwide Ladies Tournament playing
for their school teams, but on this day they were all back together again as one team.
Coach Dave and Coach Paul had recently attended a coaches training organized by the Kenya Football Federation. The training was done by German trained coaches. Coach Dave and Coach Paul were able to put into practice the things they had learned during this one day training with the Suba Lakers. They subjected the players to a lot of drills and good teaching, but there was also some time for fun and games.
Coach Dave and Coach Paul had recently attended a coaches training organized by the Kenya Football Federation. The training was done by German trained coaches. Coach Dave and Coach Paul were able to put into practice the things they had learned during this one day training with the Suba Lakers. They subjected the players to a lot of drills and good teaching, but there was also some time for fun and games.
These girls love coming back together and sharing stories. Some of them secondary school girls were given time in front of the large group to share their team’s experience at the KYFA tournament. While a number of the primary school girls shared their experiences during the ball-games which took place during Term 1 in March and April.
Visitors from a YWAM team in Los Angeles attended
the training and helped out in different ways.
The girls just enjoyed spending some time with the visitors. A special guest from Suba Environmental
Education of Kenya (SEEK) also had time to share with the girls about making
good choices in their lives.
Our secondary girls all travelled back to their boarding
schools two days later to start Term 2.
They were excited for their school soccer season this term and to see
which of their school team will win the Regional tournament, go to Nationals
and get bragging rights over the other Suba Laker girls.
Pray for a successful Term 2 in the classroom and on the
field for all our girls!
May 7, 2015
KYFA 2015
A few Suba Laker players and officials |
What makes the KYFA tournament special is that all of the teams “camp out” together at a local primary school for 3 nights. Each team sleeps in a different classroom, but they share their meals together, interact around the campus and KYFA brings in successful women from around the country who share with the girls from their own experiences and motivate the girls to strive for success in other areas of their life besides only soccer.
Lillian, 9th grade, was flawless in the goal box for her team! |
Nyakach Girls Football Team KYFA 2015 Champions, Open Age |
April 18, 2015
Primary Ball-Games 2015
In the Homabay County tournament, the Mbita team included Suba Lakers Siska Verah, Mourine Owiti, Felistas Atieno and Florence Wangoi and were coached by Paul Diela and Dave Gombe. This team was a force to be reckoned with. In the first game the Mbita team won 1-0 on a goal from Siska and then drew 0-0 with Ndhiwa which featured Suba Laker defender Lencer Adoyo. Mbita topped the group and entered the semifinals against Rachuonyo North. Mbita led 1-0 after another goal from Siska Verah. They kept the lead until 4 minutes before the final whistle when Rachuonyo equalized on a debatable non-call from an off-sides position. Unfortunately the Mbita team lost in the penalty shoot-out to get knocked out.
We are proud of Lencer, Apeto and the Lake Region girls for once again reaching the National Finals for the 4th time in the past 5 years.
Congrats to our Laker girls and the entire Lake Region Team! It has been a great season!
March 21, 2015
Primary School Action
Over the past month, the Suba Lakers have been busy preparing our primary school girls for the School Ball Games that will begin soon. The weekly sessions have been aimed at improving their skills and getting them into shape.
Several of the Suba Lakers are returning this year with a lot of experience and their sights set on moving further than they did last year. As young players, Siska Verah and Florence Wangoi were key contributors up to the Sub-County level in 2014, but with a year of maturity, they want to play a bigger role this year and go further. Felistas Atieno, Mourine Owiti and Phylice Akoth all helped their team win the Homa Bay County Championships, but were disappointed when they weren’t selected to move on to Regionals like some of their teammates were. Felistas turned into a very strong central defender who uses her aggressiveness, size and skill to keep the ball away from the goal. Mourine has been a powerful, fast defensive wing player for many years now. Phylice uses her speed to put pressure on the opponent’s defense as a striker. Last year Lencer Adoyo was the starting defender and arguably the most valuable player on the Lake Region team that won their first ever National championship. With that experience under her belt she is excited about the opportunity of helping her team win back to back national championships.
The early stages of the ball-games should be starting any day now. The ball games begin at the school level (or Base) and progress up through the Zone, Division, Sub-County (District), County, Region and culminates at Nationals!
We wish our Suba Lakers success in all of their competitions!
Several of the Suba Lakers are returning this year with a lot of experience and their sights set on moving further than they did last year. As young players, Siska Verah and Florence Wangoi were key contributors up to the Sub-County level in 2014, but with a year of maturity, they want to play a bigger role this year and go further. Felistas Atieno, Mourine Owiti and Phylice Akoth all helped their team win the Homa Bay County Championships, but were disappointed when they weren’t selected to move on to Regionals like some of their teammates were. Felistas turned into a very strong central defender who uses her aggressiveness, size and skill to keep the ball away from the goal. Mourine has been a powerful, fast defensive wing player for many years now. Phylice uses her speed to put pressure on the opponent’s defense as a striker. Last year Lencer Adoyo was the starting defender and arguably the most valuable player on the Lake Region team that won their first ever National championship. With that experience under her belt she is excited about the opportunity of helping her team win back to back national championships.
The early stages of the ball-games should be starting any day now. The ball games begin at the school level (or Base) and progress up through the Zone, Division, Sub-County (District), County, Region and culminates at Nationals!
We wish our Suba Lakers success in all of their competitions!
March 15, 2015
Equipment Donations
Equipment is always a challenge for the Suba Lakers.
It is difficult to find good balls which will endure being played on the rough Kenyan fields filled with rocks and thorns and usually surrounded by barbed wire fences. Soccer cleats (known as 'football boots') are very expensive in Kenya. Most of the cleats which can be purchased in Kenya are already used. Because the fields are usually very hard with a lot of rocks and dirt and very little grass, the cleats also take a big beating. And many times because we only have few cleats to choose from, the girls end up picking a pair that doesn’t fit them so well. When they wear ones that are a little too small or too big, it is also rough on the shoes, especially since they were previously used by someone else.
Through the U.S. Soccer Foundation's Passback program, we also recently received some lightly used soccer equipment which included more pairs of soccer cleats, goalkeeper gloves, used soccer balls, socks and a few jerseys.
The donations were a big encouragement to the club officials and the players.
Learn more about the Passback program and how YOU can organize a donation drive to bless another soccer program somewhere around the world!
February 28, 2015
KCSE Results
Our 6 high school graduates have been eagerly awaiting their National Exam results which were finally released yesterday. They took their exams in October/November, along with 400,000 other students across the country. It is a big milestone for these girls to have finished high school and taken their National Exams. In our district, only 16% of the girls normally finish high school. The Suba Lakers have helped over 85% of their girls complete high school.
Adah Sharon achieved a mean score of A which places her in the top 1% of students in Kenya. Her teammate Linet Akeyo achieved an A- which puts her in the top 3% of students in Kenya. Those high scores will ensure that both of these girls are able to continue their education in university through government sponsorship. Sharon Bismarck also scored highly, earning a B- which is above the cutoff for qualification for University. The other three did not score as highly as these three, but being able to graduate high school was a big achievement for these girls who many said would never reach that far. They faced tough circumstances in their education including a poor foundation because of very weak primary schools, poverty, and many other challenges. Each of these 6 six girls were orphaned from a young age which can drastically affect their home situation, academic performance and financial means.
We thank God that through the help of the club working along with their schools, teachers and families, each of these girls has made it past this critical juncture of their life.
This year’s class featured two of the
most outstanding students in the country.
Adah Sharon achieved a mean score of A which places her in the top 1% of students in Kenya. Her teammate Linet Akeyo achieved an A- which puts her in the top 3% of students in Kenya. Those high scores will ensure that both of these girls are able to continue their education in university through government sponsorship. Sharon Bismarck also scored highly, earning a B- which is above the cutoff for qualification for University. The other three did not score as highly as these three, but being able to graduate high school was a big achievement for these girls who many said would never reach that far. They faced tough circumstances in their education including a poor foundation because of very weak primary schools, poverty, and many other challenges. Each of these 6 six girls were orphaned from a young age which can drastically affect their home situation, academic performance and financial means.
We thank God that through the help of the club working along with their schools, teachers and families, each of these girls has made it past this critical juncture of their life.
January 20, 2015
Joining High School
The 2015 school year got off to a slow start with the nationwide teacher’s strike, but finally cooler heads prevailed and school is beginning. 8 of our 9 Eighth Graders were able to join various high schools around the region.
Niphrid, Sharon and Lavenda joined Ugari Secondary School in Migori County. Winny, Lillian and Eunice joined Nyakach Girls in Kisumu County. Nyakach has reached the Regional Final in back to back years and are hoping these girls can help them get over the hump and win the region so that they can advance to Nationals. Nancy joined Sindo Girls High School. Finally, June joined 12 time regional champions Jera Seconary School where she will team up with four other Suba Lakers who are learning and competing there.
These 8 girls bring the total number of Suba Lakers currently in High School to 29. We have had 13 finish high school in the past couple of years.
We are also happy that several of our girls have been chosen as captains of their high school soccer teams. Last year Captain Judith Mayor helped lead her team to Nationals. This year Caren Akeyo is the captain at Kobala, Alicent Awuor is the captain at Jera and Lavenda Achieng as a 1st year student has been named the captain at Ugari.
Please pray with us for these girls as they adapt to life in secondary school!
Niphrid, Sharon and Lavenda joined Ugari Secondary School in Migori County. Winny, Lillian and Eunice joined Nyakach Girls in Kisumu County. Nyakach has reached the Regional Final in back to back years and are hoping these girls can help them get over the hump and win the region so that they can advance to Nationals. Nancy joined Sindo Girls High School. Finally, June joined 12 time regional champions Jera Seconary School where she will team up with four other Suba Lakers who are learning and competing there.
In the past five years, 39 out of the 42 Suba Laker Eighth Graders who have taken their National Exams have continued their education in high school. That is a 93% rate which is astounding compared to the district average of 50%. We are grateful that because of their football skills, academic performance and financial help, these girls are able to continue in their education.
These 8 girls bring the total number of Suba Lakers currently in High School to 29. We have had 13 finish high school in the past couple of years.
Please pray with us for these girls as they adapt to life in secondary school!
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