Itigo to stake claim: Former National Champions Itigo High to take on Moi Girls Kapcherop

Former national champions Itigo High of Nandi County will take on Moi Girls Kapcherop of Elgeyo Marakwet in the girls’ football final match during the Airtel Rising Stars Secondary schools Term 2B games in Nakuru Region Championships today.

Itigo reached the finals after thrashing Meswondo of Bomet 6-0 in a one sided semi-final match played at Kapsabet High yesterday.

Itigo who were the 2008 National champions opened the scores with just three minutes into the match when two-goal star Betty Jelimo hit the target with a fine tap inside the box.

Jelimo notched her second six minutes later after a good combination with Vilcosine Chepngetich. Jelimo then set up Chepngetich to score Itigo’s third goal in the 19th minute before Tecla Cherotich stretched the lead to 4-0 in the 41st minute.

Chepngetich and Cherotich added one goal each in the second half with scores in the 63rd and 69th minute to hand Itigo a resounding 6-0 victory and ticket to the final.

In the other semi-final match, Moi Girls Kapcherop beat Emburu of Nakuru 3-0 to set a final date with high riding Itigo. Benedine Mutai put Kapcherop in the lead in the fourth minute while Florence Mutai added a brace to help Kapcherop keep live their dreams of retaining the regional trophy.

In the boys’ category, Kongoi of Nakuru beat Abrar of Uasin Gishu 4-0 in first semi-final to set up a date Chemase secondary school from Nandi County. Edwin Cheruiyot and Felix Chemosit each netted a brace to take their team to the last four stage.

Three players of Abrar were red carded in the stormy match forcing the team to play the last 18 minutes with just eight players.

Those red carded were Omar Okinda, who received his marching orders in the 27th minute, Nurdin Midenyo (58th) and Mansur Yunis (62nd).

In second semi-final match, Chemase of Nandi beat Boito from Bomet 1-0 in a closely contested game. Vincent Ngetich scored the all-important goal in the sixth minute in the match played at the Kapsabet Show ground.

Kongoi and Chemase will now battle it out in the final to decide who will represent Nakuru region in the Airtel Rising Stars Secondary Schools Term 2B national championships to be played at Kakamega High in August.

The remaining seven regions will hold their finals next week. Winners of the national finals will represent Kenya at ARS Africa championship to be held in Gabon.

The Airtel Rising Stars initiative was started in 2011 as an annual Africa-wide programme that provides a platform for upcoming soccer talent under the age of seventeen to showcase their skills to leading scouts, coaches and have an opportunity to further their football skills.

In Kenya, the initiative targets boys and girls in secondary schools across the country.