St Anthony’s Boys Kitale are the new KSSSA national champions in soccer under 19 after defeating Nairobi’s Dagoretti Boys 5-4 in a post-match penalty shootout after the two titans shared the slots in normal time.
In a pulsating match that was played at Kisumu Stadium on Saturday, both teams put up a gratifying contest to prove the availability of young talents in the secondary schools.
St Anthony’s win has, however, come after momentous grooming of players after the boys were taken on a full week camp a week prior the
competitions in Kisumu city.
Supported by former Barding high school principal Victor Makanda, St Anthony’s won all their prefatory games before thrashing Western-based Ebwali 5-4 in the semi-final match on Friday.
Mr. Makanda won East and Central African Championships in Eldoret in 2016 with Barding High School before moving to St Anthony’s in 2018.
Peter Mayoyo, St Anthony’s Boys head coach, earlier on insisted on making the former champions great again after the school last hoisted the U19 trophy in 2013, 2005 and 2003.
Before reaching the final, St Anthony’s beat Coast-based Shimba hills 1-0, beat Central’s Olbolsat with the same margin before beating Banisa 6-0 to lead group B and having scored 8 goals without conceding any.
Dagoretti on the other side defeated Mbooni 2-0, beat the hosts Kisumu Day 2-0 and settled at the top of group A with a comfy win of 3-1 against Ebwali to meet second-placed Olbolsat at the semi-final where they proceeded after beating them 3-1
After extra time and having shared the slots, the match was forced to shift to post-match penalty shootout where St Anthony’s emerged victorious.
In soccer under 16 girls category, Rift Valley region representatives Wiyeta Girls outshone Western region representatives Maeni Girls in the final beating them 2-1 to lift the title.
A second half goal from Karemana Jacinta confirmed the national trophy as well as Afcon girls ticket to Zambia after Noel Oruko had axed Edna Wanda’s first half strike.
Wiyeta Girls have all through received a hand in hand support from their principal, Beatrice Ingati who traveled with them to Kisumu. However, Maeni Girls principal Lydia Shisima asserted that to this far it was God’s grace that led them there since it’s their first time to play the nationals.
In Soccer U16 boys category, Kakamega County-based Koyonzo Boys were contented with second place after being defeated by Coast’s Serani Boys in the final. The two teams had met in the preliminaries Serani beating Koyonzo with the same margin.
Only one team is expected to represent Kenya in U16 Afcon championships in Zambia later this month, from both disciplines.
In U19 boys bracket, two teams will represent Kenya in East and Central Africa games in Arusha later this month as three teams are expected to travel to Arusha in girls’ listing.
Nyakach Girls won the under 19 girls trophy beating Itigo Girls 2-0 in the final on Saturday morning. Third place was however confirmed by Bishop Njenga Girls after winning the play-off match 7-1 against Njabini.