Kenyan midfielder Lydia ‘Ozil’ Akoth is preparing to step into new territory as she gears up for her first full season with Tanzanian giants Yanga Princesses.
After making the switch across the border last year on a half-season deal from Kenyan champions Police Bullets FC, the forward quickly established herself as one of the dominant midfield performers in the Tanzanian league, bringing both flair and hunger to a side already steeped in tradition and ambition.
For Akoth, returning to Tanzania, now on full contract with Yanga represents more than just a continuation of her career—it is the beginning of a fresh chapter where she aims to not only make her name known in East Africa but also inspire the next generation of Kenyan girls daring to dream of playing professionally.
Her story is one of persistence, sacrifice, and unyielding ambition, built on the solid foundation of hard work that saw her rise from the local Kenyan leagues to one of the region’s most competitive clubs.
She showed her grit and hunger with how quick she made herself feel at home in Dar es Salaam. From adapting to a new playing style and culture, to adjusting to the intensity of the Tanzanian Women’s Premier League, Akoth had to learn quickly.
Yet, it is this very process of adaptation that has sharpened her resolve. She is determined to prove herself worthy of the yellow and green jersey, a responsibility she does not take lightly.
Off the pitch, Akoth carries herself with a calm composure and maturity that belies her years. The 23-year old has been one of the standout and promising players for the Starlets, since making her senior team debut in September 2024.
In an exclusive interview with Telecomasia.net, Akoth opens up about her journey in Tanzania so far, her aspirations with Yanga Princesses, and the lessons she is carrying with her into this crucial season.
She also speaks on next month’s crucial Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifier against Gambia, and what it would mean for her and millions of other girls in Kenya, were the Harambee Starlets book a historical second ticket to Africa’s premiere women’s football tournament.
— How was your first season in Tanzanian football?
- It has been great and that was honestly the best six months of my football career. I gelled in very quickly after joining the team because the people there are so warm and friendly. They welcomed me in such a great way and I quickly became comfortable and enabled me to play well and enjoy my football. The way they treated me gave me a lot of confidence and I always wanted to step on the pitch to do well and not let them down because of the trust they had put in me.
— You found a number of Kenyan players already in the team. Did this help you in settling down?
- Yes of course when you go somewhere new and you find a few familiar faces, it always helps you settle down quick because they show you the way around, you have people to talk to before knowing everyone in the team and that helps you to feel at home. Also, the Tanzanian and Kenyan cultures are not very different so that made it easuier.
— How would you sum up your overall first campaign in Tanzania?
- For me it was great and I believe as a team we achieved the objectives we had set at the start of the season. The objective was to finish in the top three and we achieved that.
— You are now heading into your first full season at the club. How is your expectation for this campaign?
- I have high expectations for the new season because we have a good team, we have good backing and support and I am confident that we will do better than last season. After finishing in the top three, I believe that we can now go for the Championship.
— You have played in Kenya, and now you are in Tanzania. How do the two leagues compare?
- I think the Tanzanian league is a bit better in terms of support and the investment they have put in women’s football. Back at home, many teams struggle financially but here, there is so much support from people, companies… all of them come to support women’s football and that is why there is so much growth.
— We are now seeing many Kenyan players opting to go to Tanzania. Why is that so?
- Definitely the biggest motivator is the financial incentive. The salary and perks there are way better than back at home. Also, they treat women’s football very seriously here and the players are also treated well. They respect women footballers and that is one of the biggest driving factors. You will always go where the incentives are more and you feel comfortable as a player.
— Finally, switching focus back to the national team, Kenya plays Gambia in the last round of WAFCON qualification. How are you girls preparing for that?
- It is something we have been thinking about and it is on our minds day in day out. We want to continue from where we stopped in the last round when we beat Tunisia, a very tough opponent. For us, we want to give our best so that we qualify for the WAFCON. We want to step on that pitch over those 180 minutes with our minds and hearts focused on achieving that target.
— What would it mean for you girls, qualifying for the WAFCON for only the second time ever?
- That would mean a lot for us. It would not only be a massive piece of history for our country and our CVs, but it will also open many doors for women’s football in Kenya. There will be more opportunities for players to move outside, just like we saw when the team qualified in 2016. That is what is driving us; to change our futures and the future of Kenyan women’s football. We believe it is a huge possibility and we are working towards that.
