DESPITE heading into the concluding CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Morocco 2024 with high hopes, the Twiga Stars were distressingly ousted from the tournament at the group stage.

Having said that, though, the Twiga Stars may have been sent packing but at least they can return home with their heads proudly held high.

Granted, after suffering morale-sapping losses in Group C to Mali and Ghana, Twiga Stars partly redeemed themselves by sensationally earning a share of the spoils with the defending champions, South Africa.

Although there will likely be a post-WAFCON analysis of the Twiga Stars’ overall displays that will be undertaken by the team’s technical staff, I feel that we should now set our sights on doing extremely well at the Women’s FUTSAL World Cup in the Philippines later this year.

Indeed, partaking in the Women’s FUTSAL World Cup could prove to be overly daunting for the Twiga Stars as this will mark our elite football heroines’ first involvement in the FUTSAL World Cup.

In light of that, this writer would like to issue a clarion call to the powers that-be in domestic football to move heaven and earth in order to ensure that our Twiga Stars are utterly prepared for their debut at the much-awaited competition.

Let us now dive into men’s local football where, as usual, those two domestic football juggernauts Simba SC and Young Africans SC have been the cynosure of many quarters as the build up to the brand new 2025/2026 season continues to gather pace.

Following the last few seasons of Young Africans’ supremacy over local football, it is doubtlessly true that Simba must be champing at the bit for the new league campaign to excitingly kick-off.

In a bid to achieve all of their lofty ambitions, Simba have been pursuing potential new signings, who will be required to fortify their huge assemblage of players.

As for the reigning Mainland Premier League champions, Young Africans, they have definitely not been sitting on their hands while their age-old foes, Simba continue to map out plans for dominating local as well as continental football.

Indeed, the Jangwani Street-based football side, who are unquestionably happy campers at the moment, are shortly due to announce the name of their new head coach, who will be immensely expected to ensure that Young Africans’ vice-like grip on the league silverware is not weakened by Simba or any other club for that matter.

In addition, Young Africans will soon reveal the names of their new signings, who will be keenly observed by the club’s army of die-hard fans as the countdown to the new 2025/26 season continues to gather steam.

Therefore, with both local football giants seeking to bolster their respective teams, the stage seems set then for what should be another absolutely pulsating and titanic battle for the league crown.

And, if we are fortunate, the battle for the league title will go right down to the wire just like last season’s unforgettably dramatic conclusion.