The Kenyan sports community has been thrown into a state of alarm as efforts intensify to locate Jane Hato, the captain of the Kenya Starlets under-20 team, who was reported missing on Thursday. The disappearance of this promising young athlete has sparked widespread concern and mobilized a concerted search effort.
According to the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), Hato’s absence was first noted on Wednesday evening. Her teammates initially dismissed her non-appearance as a minor delay.
However, as Hato failed to show up for their scheduled departure to Ethiopia for the CECAFA Women’s Champions League Qualifiers, concern quickly escalated.
The FKF released an official statement acknowledging the situation:
“The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has been made aware of the concerning situation involving Jane Hato, the captain of the Kenya U20 Women’s National Team and a player for Kenya Police Bullets FC.”
The federation elaborated on the circumstances surrounding Hato’s disappearance:
“Jane was expected to join her team for their journey to Ethiopia for the CAF Women’s Champions League Zonal Qualifiers. However, she did not arrive at the designated meeting point, and her current whereabouts are unknown.”
Club and Federation Response
Jane Hato is not only the national U20 team captain but also a midfield player for Kenya Police Bullets FC. Her club has confirmed her missing status and joined the appeal for information. Both the club and the FKF are urging the public to come forward with any potential leads:
“We urge anyone with information that could assist in locating Jane to come forward and contact the nearest police station,” the federation stated.
Family’s Account
Hato’s family, residing in Saika estate along Kangundo road, has provided additional details about her last known movements. Her mother, Anne Aluoch, recounted:
“I last saw her at 7.30 pm yesterday [Wednesday] when she was leaving home.”
Aluoch described her daughter’s attire at the time of her departure, noting that Jane was wearing a navy blue tracksuit and orange sports shoes. This information could be crucial for identification purposes in the ongoing search.
Background and Career
Before joining Kenya Police Bullets FC, Jane had honed her skills with the Mathare United women’s team, highlighting her progression through the ranks of Kenyan women’s football.
The football community and authorities are appealing to the public for any information that could lead to locating Jane Hato.
Individuals with potentially helpful information are encouraged to report to the nearest police station or contact her mother directly at 0710 322 573. Alternatively, Jectan from FKF can be reached at 0727 382 466.
