In 2019, a young girl from Kenya named Victory Odhiambo picked up a lacrosse stick for the first time. She had been a basketball star in school, but when an opportunity to try a new sport came along, she gave it a shot. Fast forward nine months later, Vicky was on a plane leading Kenya’s first-ever female lacrosse team to the U19 World Championships in Canada. What followed was a powerful example of how sports development can open doors, and change lives.

Pathways From Grassroots to Greatness

Vicky’s lacrosse journey began with Kenya Lacrosse, a brand-new team full of first timers, coached by DBA director and Founder Storm Trentham. They didn’t have much, no big funding, no facilities, but they had passion. The team surprised the world by winning 3 out of 8 games, scoring the most goals in their group matches. One Kenyan player even ranked 13th overall in tournament points, having only played the sport for a few months.

Vicky stood out as a leader and was chosen as the team captain, thanks to her traits on and off the field. The story of the Kenyan Lacrosse team, their courage, and their determination caught the world’s attention. A documentary called "Sleeping Warrior" followed their journey, showing the struggles and success of this underdog team.

Empowering Girls Through Sport and Study

While in Canada, a supporter met Vicky and saw her potential, not just in sport, but in school. Wanting to make a difference, he helped Vicky get a full scholarship to Utah Valley University, where she studied Computer Engineering.

This opportunity came not just from her strong academics, but from her courage to lead, compete, and grow through sport. At Utah, she joined the university’s lacrosse team, the Utah Warriors, and played for three seasons. In 2025, she graduated with a degree in Computer Engineering, becoming a role model for many.

Vicky’s story is about more than sport. It is about integrity, trust, and leadership. She showed that African girls can lead on the world stage. She showed that sport can support education, not take away from it. She proved that you can be a champion in the classroom and on the field.

In many African homes, parents worry that sport will take focus away from school. But Vicky’s journey proves the opposite. Thanks to a sports pathway, she earned a world-class degree, developed strong leadership skills, and became part of a global movement to empower youth.

The Future of Sports Development in Africa

With lacrosse now on the path to the LA 2028 Olympics, Kenya’s role in shaping the sport is growing. And with young stars like Vicky Odhiambo showing what’s possible, the future looks bright for scholarships, sports development, and empowering girls across Africa.

At DBA Africa, we believe in changing lives through sport. Vicky’s story is just one example of how sport creates pathways from grassroots to greatness, and it’s only the beginning. Through lacrosse, Vicky found a new path, one that led from trying a new sport in Kenya to a university degree in the USA. Her story is an example of how sports development can open real pathways for young people, especially girls. Whether it’s on the field or in the classroom, sport can be a powerful tool for changing lives.