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Concerns rise as U20 captain Jane Hato found safe amid troubling trend of athlete disappearances in Kenya.
On Friday morning, the nation breathed a collective sigh of relief as news broke of Jane Hato’s safe return.
The U20 Rising Starlets captain, who had mysteriously vanished, was found after intense searches by her family and local authorities.
However, her disappearance has reignited serious concerns regarding the safety of sportment in the region.
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12:32 - 15.08.2024
FKF issues worrying update over whereabouts of Kenya U20 women's national team captain
Football Kenya Federation is seeking help from the public to help locate Kenya U20 women's captain Jane Hato who has gone missing.
Jane Hato, an attacking midfielder with FKF Women's Premier League champions Kenya Police Bullets FC, was last seen dressed in a navy blue tracksuit and orange sports shoes.
Her departure from home was for a routine meet-up with her team before heading to Ethiopia for a Champions League zonal qualification match.
The anxiety began when she failed to show up at the designated meeting point at Police Sacco Stadium.
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15:00 - 11.03.2024
FKFPL Mysterious disappearance of KCB goalkeeper sparks widespread concern
KCB goalkeeper Brian Opiyo Olang'o has been missing since Sunday, with family, friends, and authorities actively searching for his whereabouts.
Her former club, Mathare United Women FC, where her mother, Ann Aluoch, serves as a coach, confirmed the reassuring news of her safety.
"We can confirm that Jane Hato is safe and sound. At the moment, let's give the family some privacy as they investigate what led to the disappearance of their daughter," the club stated in a release.
This disappearance echoes unsettling incidents involving other players, notably Halima Tadicha Abkula of the then Kangemi Ladies, who vanished in April 2023.
Halima was last seen after a match at Toi Grounds in Kibera and was found after a prolonged search that left her family and friends in despair.
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20:55 - 18.04.2023
FOOTBALL Kangemi Ladies player goes missing after friendly match
The player was reported missing on Saturday afternoon after her club friendly against Uweza Women FC in Nairobi.
In another alarming case, KCB FC goalkeeper Brian Opiyo Olang'o went missing in March and was later found in Ngong forest following a harrowing abduction ordeal.
Reports suggest that Opiyo was abducted near Taj Mall, with his kidnappers seizing his phone and draining his bank accounts.
The recent spate of disappearances has raised serious concerns about the safety of athletes in Kenya, prompting interventions at various levels of sports administration and government.
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07:38 - 16.08.2024
AFC Leopards coach Thomas Trucha sets high hopes ahead of Uganda's Express duel
AFC Leopards' head coach Thomas Trucha has reflected on the team's pre-season camp in Mumias, highlighting preparations for upcoming league challenges.
Chris Oguso, CEO of Police Football Clubs, expressed ongoing concern and dedication to solving these mysteries.
“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 a government," Oguso stated in an interview with Citizen Digital.
Oguso also hinted at possible non-sporting causes behind Hato's disappearance.
“I don’t think it is related to football at all. It could be a family issue. Our police officers are on this to find out she is where and with who. Once this is sorted out and the player is ready, no doubt she will be linked up with the rest of her teammates in Ethiopia," he added.
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06:00 - 16.08.2024
Benson Omala’s father reveals Engin Firat’s hand in Lebanon transfer
Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat has been reported to have played a major role in helping Benson Omala secure a move to Lebanese outfit Al-Safa FC.
The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) had earlier flagged Hato’s absence as a “concerning situation,” reflecting the growing anxiety around athlete safety.
The federation's swift response underscored the urgency and seriousness with which these cases are now being handled.
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