Champions St Johns Kaloleni fall to Kwale: Coast New champions crowned as games end in Kilifi

Kenya's St. John's Kaloleni Secondary School players celebrates scoring a goal against GS Remere of Rwanda during their East Afrca Secondary School Games football match at Kipchoge Stadium, Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County on August 28, 2016.[PHOTO:DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD]

National champs in tears as Kwale Girls prove the best at the Coast championships.

National secondary school girls’ football champions St Johns Kaloleni from Kilifi County were yesterday shocked by Kwale Girls School in the final of the Airtel Rising Stars Coast secondary schools Term Two ‘B’ games at Kilifi Township School.

New champions also emerged in boys category after Ramisi from Kwale County stunned pre-match favorites Tononoka of Mombasa 2-1 in the final.

As a result, a tearful St Johns Kaloleni side will not travel to Nyeri for the national games to defend the title they won last year after beating former champions Wiyeta 3-1 in the final.

Kwale Girls School were crowned new Coast region champions after they comfortably won 2-0 in the final. Catherine Aringo set the ball rolling for Kwale Girls in the 36th minute before top scorer Elizabeth Katungwa who scored 14 goals in the tournament notched second goal in the 70th minute.

“It was a sweet victory for my girls who will be making their debut at the national games,” said coach Mukasa Amboko. “If we have managed to outclass the defending champions, then we are good and ready for the task ahead.”

St Johns Kaloleni coach Joseph Oyoo conceded defeat: “We lost to a better side and we wish them the best at the national games,” Oyoo said.

The coach had earlier indicated his team was not ready to defend the title. Kwale Girls lost 7-0 to the five-time Coast regional queens St Johns in last year’s final at Shimo La Tewa School, Mombasa.

En route to the finals, Kwale crushed a hapless Bale side 8-0 in the semi-finals while St Johns beat Mwijo from Kilifi by a solitary goal.

In the boys’ final, Ramisi became the new kings after the 2-1 win over former national silver medalists Tononoka.

Immediate former Coast region defending champions New Palm Academy did not field a team at the games from sub-county level. Waa Boys and St Johns Kaloleni successfully retained the boys and girls volleyball titles.

Kwale County players dominated in badminton and lawn tennis both singles and doubles.