Kenya Lionesses player Olesia passes on

 Kenya Lionesses rugby player Bernadette Olesia is dead.

She passed away on Tuesday 15 August 2023 while receiving treatment in hospital.

Bernadette worked at the Shamas Rugby Foundation and played her club rugby for Shamas Rugby Foundation and Northern Suburbs Ladies Team.

Kenya Rugby Union in a statement (KRU) confirmed Olesia’s passing, promising to provide further communication in due time.

The rugby fraternity through its various affiliates have sent their message of condolences to the family and friends of Olesia.

KCB rugby club on its Twitter page condoled with Olesia saying, "Rest In Peace Northern Suburbs Ladies Rugby team Captain Bernadette Olesia. We will see you someday again in the clouds."

Mwamba rugby club said: "We join the Kenya rugby fraternity in mourning the untimely loss of@kenyalioness and Northern Suburbs player Bernadette Olesia who passed early today. Our players and thoughts are with @nslrfc for the loss of their captain."

Olesia was a prominent member of the national women’s team — Lionesses — having featured for the side at May’s Rugby Africa Women’s Cup in Madagascar. Kenya competed against Cameroon, South Africa as well as the hosts.

During last year's Africa Cup, she captained the squad to win the tournament in Kampala beating the hosts and Zambia respectively.