Schools: Champions suffer shock defeats in Kwale games

Mwanahalima Adam (left) of St. Johns Girls High School battles for an aerial ball with Winnie Atieno (right) of Kwale Girls High School in one of the girls quarter final soccer match during the Coast Region Secondary Schools Term 2B games at Shimo la Tewa High School, July 15, 2016. St. Johns won 2-0 but both teams qualified for the semi finals. [PHOTO BY GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD].

The end was not what many had anticipated.

It was meant to be smooth sailing for Kwale County boys and girls football champions. They had been in this position during previous championships, so history was supposed to be on their side.

But after the final whistle, last year’s football champions were in tears after they were bundled out of the Kwale County secondary school Term Two B games at Msambweni Secondary School.

These games have a way of delivering the sucker punch. They have little regard for previous history and titles. They count for nothing, especially when the small boys and girls come calling. The big ones tremble.

In girls’ football, this was the case when last year’s champions, Waa Girls High School, came face to face with Kwale Girls School. There was to be only one outcome. Kwale rewrote the history books after they won 2-1 and with that, qualified for the Coast Region games.

In the boys’ contest, Ramisi Secondary School upset former champions Shimba Hills, handing them a 2-0 defeat in the final.

The win confirmed Ramisi as the new kids on the block. They recently won the Coast Region Under-16 football title and will take part in the national games that start tomorrow in Mombasa.

In boys’ volleyball, title holders Waa Boys hit Shimoni 3-1 to retain the trophy, while Kwale added another title after they beat Shimoni 3-0 in the girls’ volleyball final.

In the Kilifi County games at Marafa School, girls’ national football champions St John’s Kaloleni retained the title after squeezing a narrow 1-0 win over Mwijo in the final.

Catherine Aringo scored a brace for the winners with Tania Mariam replying for Waa Girls. In the semifinals, St John’s hit Majaoni 2-0, while Mwijo won 2-1 against Bale, who won the playoff after beating Majaoni 3-1.

In boys’ football, Cannon Mweri emerged champions when they beat Galana 1-0 in the final. En route to the final, Cannon Mweri beat Sokoke 2-1 while Galana hit Mjanaheri 3-1.

In boys’ volleyball, Dzitsoni won after defeating Mariakani 3-0, while St John’s retained the title thanks to a 3-0 final score against Kinarani.

Ganze and Kaloleni sub-counties won in the boys’ and girls’ table tennis.

[Ernest Ndunda]