She got a call up to the national team when Kenya was preparing for the Africa Cup of Nations last year. However, when the final squad was picked her name was missing. She was not good enough. Well that failure turned out to be a blessing in disguise for hockey star Yvonne Wanjiku.

“I was disappointed and heartbroken because I wanted to be in the national team she said “However it was a turning point for me, I knew I had to work harder to earn a slot in Kenya team.

 

Wanjiku was speaking to Fever Pitch after receiving the women’s best scorer’s award during the Africa Club Championships at Lugogo National Stadium in Kampala Uganda.

 

She was very instrumental in Strathmore’s runners up finish, scoring seven goals in the tournament. Without knowing that the women’s national team head coach Fidhelis Kimanzi and his assistant Wycliffe Ongori were in Uganda to watch them play, Wanjiku played her best to impress.

NATIONAL CAP

Her efforts paid off as Kimanzi later confirmed Wanjiku is just away from the National team call-up. “She will definitely be in the national team if she keeps with her good form” he said

The former Kerugoya Girls High School student did not disappoint the Strathmore university fraternity who offered her a hockey scholarship to study a Bachelor of Telecommunications at the institution.

She scored three goals in their opening match against hosts Kampala in a match they won 11-0.her second assignment was against 2012 silver medalists Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA),also known as custom ladies.

 

Wanjiku once again proved her worth, scoring 2-1 victory against Ghanaians.in their semi-final match against hosts Weatherheads, Wanjiku was at it again scoring two goals to secure 2-0 victory that gave the Scorpions a ticket to the finals.

INJURY SCARE

She, however, suffered an injury in the second half of their finals match against champions Orange that saw her leave the pitch on a stretcher. Strathmore ended up losing 2-0 against Orange for silver medal. Of course the results would have been different had she remained in the team.

Strathmore coach Meshack Senge describes Wanjiku as a reliable player capable of changing the game at any given time. “She is a player you can rely on to change the game if needed anytime. Wanjiku will go places if given a chance and good support,” Senge said.

 

Wanjiku won the national schools and East Africa schools titles with Kerugoya for three years in a row in 2010-2012.the 18-year-old started playing hockey while in form two at Kerugoya in 2010.she says it is just the beginning of the good things to come: even if she is not the fully fledged hockey star yet, she is certainly no longer the apprentice.

 

SOURCE: THE STANDARD NEWSPAPER, 30/01/2014