The Kenya Army's 81 Tank Battalion and the 3rd Battalion Kenya Rifles based at Lanet Barracks are this year's hosts of the ten-day Chief of the Defence Forces Women Football Championships.
The championships, which brings together 10 Kenya Defence Forces formations, brigades and bases, was officially opened on Monday, 16th April 2018, by the Commander Kenya Army Armoured Corps (Armoured Brigade), who is also the Chairman of KDF Football Associations, Brigadier Alphaxard Muthuri Kiugu, at the 81 Tank Battalion, the home of Ulinzi Football Club.
The ten formations competing in the ten-day event are the 2nd, 4th, 6th, Armoured, Artillery and Engineers brigades as well as the Kahawa Garrison, Moi Air Base, Laikipia Air Base and Mtongwe Navy Base.
The Defence Headquarters and Manda Navy Base did not make it to this year's championships. In his speech, Brigadier Kiugu said the tournament is meant for identifying talents within KDF that will enable the military to form a women football team that will represent KDF in various national and international competition.
"We are embracing the modern trends of football where both gender shall be represented, "said Brig Kiugu.
The Brigade Commander also commended the national women's football team, Harambee Starlets, giving a special mention of senior privates Neddy Atieno, Lucy Mukhwana and Linda Wechuli who have featured in the Starlets starting line ups a number of times.
"Senior Private Neddy Atieno of 42nd Field Workshop recently scored the winning goal against Uganda Crested Cranes," said Kiugu.
In the opening game, the hosts, Armoured Brigade, scored a 9th minute single winning goal against Artillery Brigade. The goal was scored by Spinchan Mokaya.
The second match could not proceed into the second half due to heavy rains which caused flooding of the football field.
By first half, Moi Air Base was ahead following a lonely goal at the 36th minute. The rest of the day one games were postponed due to the rains. The tournament would end on Friday, 27th April 2018.