Rebecca Kwoba: Youngster chasing football glory in USA
Rebecca Kwoba, a former Zetech Sparks and Harambee Starlets player, won a fully paid scholarship to study Engineering while playing for Lady Braves Soccer which is owned by her host,, Alcorn State University.
What you need to know:
- Her football journey started at Ibinda Primary School in Kakamega County.
Rebecca Kwoba is on her way to achieving her sporting dreams, thanks to her brilliant skills in football. After sitting her Form Four exams, Zetech University in Ruiru, Kiambu County spotted her talent and offer a fully scholarship to pursue a Diploma course in Electrical Engineering as she played for the institution’s team Zetech Sparks.
Since then, the star of a 19-year-old rural girl from Kakamega County has shone bright. She recently won a sports scholarship to study at Alcorn State University in Mississippi, USA.
Her football journey started at Ibinda Primary School in Kakamega County.
“My football journey started at Ibinda Primary School under coach Peter Amwayi and his fellow coaches who supported me. I sat my Kenya Certificate of Primary School Examination, and I got an admission letter from Butere Girls Secondary School but my parents couldn’t raise the required school fee. I joined Khwisero Secondary School, but at Form Two, I transferred to Madira Girls High School in Vihiga County, and that’s where I got my first call-up to the national football team, but even then, I did not make the final team,’’ Kwoba says.
Last year, she got a sports scholarship to study at Alcorn State University and also plays for the institution’s team christened ‘Braves Soccer Football Club.’
Since arriving at the institution early this year, she has adjusted well to life in the US, although she has no team-mate from Kenya in the squad.
“At first, it was hard to cope with both the weather, food and mode of education, but I have settled down well here and managed to fit into the system,” she says.
“We have played in seven tournaments involving six teams here, and we won four,” she says.
She comes from a humble background and is happy that even with the initial setbacks, she never gave up.
Harambee Starlets
She is grateful for the support from her coaches, saying it opened doors for her even if she was not lucky enough to make Harambee Starlets squad the first time of asking.
With her humble background, she remembers that attaining higher education seemed impossible until a friend who had noticed her football talent, persuaded her to apply for Zetech University Sports Scholarship Fund. The fund gives full scholarships to students from vulnerable communities. Such students must have demonstrated great potential in sports such as rugby, football, volleyball, basketball, among others.
The kitty has an annual funding of Sh10 million and has been running for five years now.
“I got to know about the Zetech University Sports Scholarship Fund through Sharon Vulimu who is my former teacher at Madira Girls High School. She contacted Yvonne Idagiza, a former captain at Zetech, and I was auditioned. I impressed them with my skills, and they later recommended me to Zetech Sparks (women’s football club) captain who signed me up. I was offered a full scholarship to study a Diploma course in Electrical Engineering at the university,” she says with nostalgia. That was in September 2023, the period she terms her turning point.
Poor background
“I come from a poor background and my parents could not afford my university fees. Getting a scholarship from Zetech University and an opportunity to play for Zetech Sparks really gave me the needed exposure,” she notes.
Rebecca’s exceptional skills as a midfielder and defender have previously earned her a place on Kenya’s women’s national team, the Harambee Starlets. She represented the Rising Starlets squad in the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers, where she competed against Cameroon in a thrilling third-round face-off.
Reflecting on her achievements, Rebecca expressed her gratitude for the support she received along the way. “Coming from a humble background in Western Kenya, Zetech University believed in me and gave me the platform to grow both academically and in sports. The opportunities offered to me have shaped my career, and I am excited to begin a new chapter at Alcorn State University,” she said.
Zetech Sparks’ head coach, Harriet Fakhir, says the youngster’s resilience should be an inspiration to young girls that talent pays and there is a need for local institutions of higher learning to embrace sports scholarships that cater to both academic and sporting needs, while offering mentorship to upcoming and promising talents.
“Rebecca is a rare gem. Her leadership on the field, combined with her discipline, has made her an invaluable player. We are thrilled to see her take this next step and know she will make a significant impact just as she did here at Zetech University,” notes Harriet Fakhir.
She hopes her example will inspire young girls who have diverse talents but they don’t know where to start to do more.
She will continue studying Electrical Engineering at Alcorn State University while playing for the institution’s football team.