Bishop Njenga and St Peter’s Mumias are Western region football champions. After boycotting the Chapa Dimba na Safaricom finals in Meru to concentrate on secondary school games, Bishop Njenga maintained a clean sheet to lift the Western region girls’ title after beating Bungoma champions Brenda Girls at the final on Friday evening.
Bishop Njenga have been all through dominating the Western region in both secondary school and Safaricom sponsored Chapa Dimba tournament for the last few years.
In a match which was highly hyped bringing together Kakamega titans and Bungoma lionesses after both teams had qualified to the final after comfortably thrashing their semi final opponents 5~0, Bishop Njenga triumphed.
Playing at Sudi Stadium to cub hooliganism threats in Bungoma high grounds, Brenda’s first half tension allowed three goals in their own net before settling down in the second half, though, without a consolation.
Arch Bishop Njenga’s experienced captain Janet Wanyonyi settled with a brace giving Fred Serenge’s side a positive reason of boycotting the Chapa Dimba na Safaricom finals in Meru.
On the other end, the highly anticipated match between Kibabii boys and St Peter’s Mumias was pulsating, with the Kibabii goalkeeper saving a deserved penalty after St Peters Mumias’ striker John atem Kato was brought down.
In presence of the Bungoma County Governor Wycliffe Wangamati who enjoyed the match at the ‘Russian fans section’ with other fans, Kibabii opened the score ten minutes after the second half whistle through their finisher Tyron Ndetu before Mohamed Abeid could equalize through a penalty five minutes later.
Mohamed stepped up again eleven minutes before the mark to seal Cosmas Nabongolo’s first national spot with St Peter’s Mumias since joining them from St Anthony’s Kitale.
Moses Kibengwa, the Saints head coach said hard work and support from the management have maintained their morale since thwacking the former national champions Kakamega high at the County level.
“The Principal has always been with us. He loves football and his support is great. We now shift focus on national level and promise our best,” said Kibengwa.
Mr Nabongolo who was also present at Sudi Stadium, lamented his urge to qualify for the East and Central Africa games.
“We fear no one at the national level. We’re going to Kisumu with a mission only to clinch the international title making it easier for us,” said Nabongolo.
In volleyball boys’ category, Namwela beat Khasoko 3~2 to clinch the regional title, enjoying the absence of former national champions Malava boys who missed the tournament after losing at the sub county level.
For the second year consecutively, Bishop Sulumeti thrashed former national champions Lugulu in the girls’ category to lift the volleyball girls title. In soccer under 16, Koyonzo of Kakamega County beat former regional champions St Peter’s Mumias 1~0 to clinch the title as Bungoma’s Maeni girls dominated in girls category.
The national championship games will be staged in Kisumu County in July.