The year 2023 remains the darkest in Kenya international striker Rebecca Okwaro’s life as a football player.
That year, she broke her arm playing in the Football Kenya Federation Women’s Premier League, was discarded by her team and, in frustration, decided to quit the game of football.
But a phone call, several months later, while she was struggling with her frustrations in Nakuru turned things round for her as she returned to the football arena, and came so close to winning the Premier League Golden Boot last year.
Turning out for Kenya Police, she is in the race again this season for the tag of most prolific striker in the WPL and going by her deadly form Okwaro means business.
The 28-year-old finished runners-up in the Golden Boot race last season with 15 goals, one shy of top scorer Tumaini Waliaula playing for Vihiga Queens.
The lethal Okwaro now leads the league's scoring chart with 11 goals from 13 matches. A further five assists by her illustrate her offensive mien this season.
He competitors for the top scorer’s gong are Bungoma Queens striker Catherine Khaemba, who is also on 13 goals, Zetech Sparks striker Berverline Adika and Ulinzi Starlets winger Joy Kinglady Oriyo, who are on seven goals apiece.
"My target of netting 20 this season still stands. I am focused on emerging as the top scorer in the team, aiding Police to retain the league title and winning the Golden Boot, which I narrowly missed last season," Okwaro told Nation Sport yesterday.
She has been rewarded for her consistency with the team captaincy. Her leadership has been instrumental in Police’s performance as they lead the 12–team league table with 28 points, collected from eight wins and four draws.
With seven matches to go to the end of the season in-form Okwaro reckons she has the time and opportunity to add to her plunder.
Kibera Soccer Women are second on the log with 25 points with a match in hand, while three times champions Vihiga Queens lie third with 24 points. Ulinzi Starlets and Bungoma Queens are fourth and fifth respectively with 22 and 20 points apiece.
"We want to retain our title this season, which is more competitive than last. Teams have improved and come prepared to face us. They really want those three points," Okwaro noted.
She has replied emphatically to the challenge of their opponents with three braces, against Kisped Queens whom the beat 3-0, Bunyore Starlets (4-0), and Wadadia Women (6-0).
On December 23, 2022, she broke her left ulna playing for Thika Queens in a league match against Wadadia Women at Mumias Sports Complex that they won 3-0.
The injury took longer than expected to heal and as a result her club ejected her from the team without notice.
"I went back home to Nakuru and gave up on football. I decided never to think about football again. But later coach Beldine Odemba called me from the blues to join (Kenya Police) Bullets, and I felt alive again. My football journey has been different ever since," said Okwaro, who grew up in Rhoda, Nakuru County, learning the game from her older brothers.
Thika Queens, who finished fifth in the league in 2023, were bought by Kenya Police later that year and rebranded as Kenya Police Bullets.
Okwaro excelled in football despite not benefitting from any academy training. Because of her football talent exhibited at Philadelphia Academy Charter School in Nakuru she was lured to Wiyeta Girls in Kitale on a sports scholarship, sitting her KCSE in 2015.
The same year, she joined Thika but soon after took a four-year break from football to pursue a management course at Kenya Institute of Management, Nakuru while working at Solinc, a solar company.
Okwaro, who draws inspiration from football icon Cristiano Ronaldo, was named in the provisional 36-strong Harambee Starlets squad by coach Beldin Odemba on Tuesday to begin preparations for 2026 Wafcon qualifier against Tunisia later this month.
The first leg encounter will be held on Nairobi on 21 and the return fixture in Tunisia five days later.
The Police hitman made her national team debut last October during the 2024 Pink Ladies Cup in Turkey and will no doubt look to cement her position in Harambee Starlets.
