CHAMPS PASSENGA heading for nationals as Tetu also holds on to Volleyball honours in Aberdare finals

The new Term 2B Airtel Rising Stars's National football champs Passenga players celebrates after beating Laiser Hill at Machakos School, Machakos County on Saturday, August 1, 2015. PHOTO/ JONAH ONYANGO.

National secondary schools Airtel Rising Stars football champions Passenga beat Wahundura 3-1 to retain their Aberdare region crown. Francis Kahiro, James Maina and James Kinyanjui scored for Passenga while Hudhaifa Ramadhani scored Wahundura’s consolation goal.

Passenga skipper Silah Maina told Feverpitch their aim is to defend the national title, but noted that it won’t be easy.

"We desire to retain our national crown and that is what we are all working hard to achieve. However, based on the upsets witnessed around the country, it is an uphill task but we are all determined to make it happen,’’ Silah said.

He added that they will shelve their celebrations for another day as they continue training in preparation for the nationals. Passenga had whitewashed Muguga 8-0 in the semis while Wahundura had dismissed Kaburu 2-1 to set the finals date.

Their girls were not as lucky as they were subjected to a humiliating 6-1 loss to Nginda. Passenga had registered an identical score of 4-1 against Gatero and Njabini respectively to secure the finals berth. Gatero beat Njabini 1-0 whereas Mugaga triumphed 4-2 over Kaburu in the girls and boys playoffs.

In volleyball, Tetu girls retained their title with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Gatero. They began taking the first set 25-19, the second set was tightly contested, with Gatero battling to snatch it 26-28. Tetu bounced back to win the third set 25-17, before dropping in the fourth 20-25. With their trophy and national ticket at stake, they fought to a 16-14 conquest to break the tie and hold on to their crown. Gatero sent packing Njabini 3-0 in the semis.

It was same script different cast as Tetu boys laboured to a 3-2 (25-10, 25-23, 24-26, 23-25 and 15-9) conquest over Kirwara. Richard Osiemo of Kirwara was voted the most valuable boys' volleyball player. In the semis, Tetu beat Githiga 3-1(25-20, 36-38, 25-16 and 25-21) while Kirwara overpowered Endarasha 3-0 (25-14, 25-15 and 25-21).