Four times national secondary schools champions St. Anthony from Trans Nzoia will not feature in this year’s Airtel Rising Stars national finals in Kisumu in August after they were eliminated by debutants Friends School Bukembe from Bungoma County.
Bukembe beat St. Anthony who were defending the title 2-1 in the finals played on Friday at Lodwar Mixed Primary School to deny them a chance of featuring in the national finals in Kisumu next month.
Mathews Isogori put Bukembe into the lead in the 32nd minute before Wilberforce Lugogo leveled the score in the 43rd minutes.
Isogori was on the mark again with the second goal in the 65th minute to seal the fate of St. Anthony.
Kennedy Makhokha who walked about 500km to watch his school Bukembe was in the celebration party with his bicycle and was honored by Turkana Deputy Governor Peter Etai.
It was bitter pill to swallow for St. Anthony who were hoping to qualify for the nationals and win back the title they last won in 2012.
They had hoped to carry the region’s flag after the elimination of 11 times champions Kakamega High by Turkana champions AGC Lokichar.
Wiyeta , the reigning national champions beat 2012 champions Tartar 2-1 on penalties after a 0-0 draw in both regular and extra time to retain the title.
Fielding the Coca Cola under 16 player of the tournament Martha Amunyelete from Busia County, Wiyeta tried to clinch the match within normal and extra time but Tartar defense stood firm.
Wiyeta won the national titles between 2003 and 2007 before they won again last year and Coach Joseph Wafula said they are determined to defend the national title.
Twenty-one time national secondary schools volleyball champions Lugulu Girls showed their intention to win back their lost glory when they beat Mukumu Girls 3-0 ( 25-17, 25-19, 25-13) in the finals at Lodwar Mixed Primary School.
Lugulu last won the National and East African titles in 2009. Since then they have been in the shadows of Malava Girls, Kwathanze and AC Kosirai who are the current holder of the title they clinched in Machakos last year.
Butula Boys saw the volleyball boys title elude them by a whisker when they led by 2-0 sets before the national champions rallied to win 3-2.
Butula Principal Daniel Ouma said they played under protest over claims Malava have fielded an over age player.
“The event is for players who 19 years and below but Malava have faked the age of a player who is 21 through KNEC records,” he said.
Malava coach Shadrack Tovoko has dismissed Butula’s claims saying the player was within the age bracket required by Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association.
