FORMER Harambee Starlets coach Justine Okiring has died following serious injuries sustained in an attack by unidentified assailants near the Trans Nzoia-West Pokot border. She died while undergoing treatment at the Wamalwa Kijana Referral Hospital in Kitale, a development that has deeply saddened the Kenyan football community.
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Okiring was a highly respected coach who played a key role in the development of women’s football at both the national and local levels. She was previously the coach of Harambee Starlets, where she helped develop and train players for the women’s national team.
Her work at the national level earned her a reputation as a strategist committed to the development of women’s football in Kenya. At junior level, she was the head coach of the Trans Nzoia Falcons and Wiyeta Girls football teams. Her time at Wiyeta Girls was highly successful, as she led the team to several titles and established it as a major force in secondary school football.
One of her greatest achievements was winning the East African Secondary Schools Sports Federation girls’ football championship, which boosted the reputation of the school and the region. The attack that led to her death occurred in an area near the border of Trans Nzoia and West Pokot counties. While the full details of the incident are still unknown, her death has sparked concern and renewed calls for better security in the area.
Authorities are yet to release a full statement on the attack. News of Okiring’s death has caused deep sorrow within the football community, with players, coaches and officials remembering her as a disciplined mentor and passionate supporter of the game.
She is known for helping young talent develop and inspiring many players to pursue football at the highest levels. Okiring leaves a lasting impact on Kenyan football. The football community has sent its condolences to her family, friends and colleagues as they mourn the loss of a coach whose influence will be remembered for years to come.