Defending champs Dagoretti Mixed chase national ticket

Dagoretti Mixed High School and Beth Mugo Secondary School players in past action. [File, Standard]

Nairobi Region girls' football champions Dagoretti Mixed Secondary School will be on a mission to retain their title at this year's regional Term Two games that begin today at Nairobi School.

Dagoretti has dominated the Nairobi games since dethroning Olympic High School in 2019. They are determined to be among the eight girls' teams that will compete for top honours at the 2025 Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National Term Two games set for July 28 to August 2 in Kakamega County.

Dagoretti coach Joseph Orao said they aim to retain the regional trophy and book their ticket to Kakamega.

"Competition is very stiff this year, but we must just defend our title and return to the national games. We have been working very hard to fill the gaps that were left by our players who finished school last year, and I can confidently say that our current squad is equal to the task," Orao said.

Kenya Police Bullets centre back Rebecca Odato is among Dagoretti players who cleared school last year. Odato was also part of the history-making Junior Starlets Under-17 team that played at the 2024 Fifa Under-17 Women's World in the Dominican Republic. She won the women's Premier League title with Police in her debut season.

Dagoretti are in Group A alongside Mwangaza Secondary School, Hon John Njoroge and Kibera Girls Soccer Girls. Coach Orao said Kibera Girls Soccer, Moi Girls, Soweto Academy and Huruma Girls are the biggest threats to their title ambitions.

Moi Girls are in Group B where they will clash with Beth Mugo, Babadogo and perennial rivals St Georges.

Group C has Ruai Hill School, Pangani Girls, Zawadi Secondary School and Buruburu Girls. Soweto and Huruma will battle it out in Group D that also has Ngara Girls and the Kenya High.

Orao will bank on the services of midfielders Shaine Kyalo and Neema Mbalaka, forwards Lucy Amoit and Lucy Achieng, defenders Cisse Nambuya and Sasha Wekesa as well as goalkeeper Shallet Baya.

Their dependable defender Susan Cynthia has been sidelined with an injury but will be fit in time for the nationals, should they bag the ticket.

National boys' football champions Highway Secondary School will begin their campaign in Group C alongside Moi Forces Academy (MFA) and Shammah Secondary School.

Former champions Upper Hill will also be out to secure their slot to the national stage after many years in the cold.

They were boosted by the return of their experienced tactician Joseph Makokha who led them to the 2013 and 2017 national gongs.