Jane Hato: Rising Starlets captain found

By Peter Ochieng

The national U20 women's football team, Rising Starlets captain Jane Hato is safe and sound.

The Kenya Police Bullets FC midfielder went missing on Wednesday evening, enroute to joining her teammates ahead of their journey to Ethiopia, for a continental assignment.

Hato joined Police Bullets FC recently from Mathare United Women's team, where her mother, Ann Aluoch serves as the head coach.

The team confirmed that she had been found, safe and sound.

"Good News! We can confirm that Jane Hato is safe and sound. At the moment, let's give the family some privacy as they investigate on what led to the disappearance of their daughter," Mathare United Women team said in a social media post.

"We appreciate the concerns, prayers and efforts of all the fans, friends and football lovers that was accorded towards Ann Aluoch family."

Hato reportedly left her home on Wednesday night for GSU headquarters along Thika Road, where players were to converge at 7.30pm, before heading to Police Sacco Stadium and then to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for their flight to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The family said she disappeared mysteriously, and with her phone off, it became difficult to trace her whereabouts.

Speaking after Hato was reported missing, Chris Oguso, Police FC and Kenya Police Bullets Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who is also a police officer, said they would do everything that is humanly possible to trace her.

“It is disturbing that she has not been seen till now, but we are sure she is alive wherever she is. When we can’t find our player and we can’t tell where she is, we take it as a missing person case, as a club and as the government," Oguso said.

He added that she probably was in the hands of a person who knew her well.