Nzoia Regional Soccer Championships: Champs sent packing in regional games

It was an upsetting exit for former National soccer champions St Anthony Kitale and regional kings Kapenguria High in the on-going Nzoia regional soccer championships.

The colourless and struggling St Anthony displayed a pale shadow of their former selves to the chagrin of many, as they left the competition prematurely in the preliminaries hosted at Kakamega High School yesterday.

The former champs bidded goodbye the competition courtesy of a 6-5 goal difference to Chesamisi High who tied on points. Chesamisi who in great fashion brought back their days of glory, will now fight it out with Chavakali in the semi-finals.

On the other side, the much hyped defending regional kings Kapenguria failed to glimmer as they lost all their matches going down 1-0 to Muslim Mumias, 2-1 to Chavakali and 3-1 to Busia's St Pauls Amukura.

In boys' volleyball, defending champions Malava Boys will play Cherangany high in the finals this after they condemned Naitiri Boys 3-0, while Cherngani silenced Mautuma 3-2 to sail through.

In the girls' category, sister school Malava Girls bounced back from last year's setbacks to book a final date with the indomitable Lugulu girls who won last year's regionals. Malava beat Mautuma 3-0 while Lugulu trounced Trans Nzoia's Weaverbird 3-2 to qualify.

In soccer girls, the fearless and classy East African defending champions Tartar stormed the  competition with refined manoeuvres booking a semi-final clash with former national champions Archbishop Njenga Girls of Kakamega.

The other semi-final match pits Kakamega's Butere Girls against last year's regional runners up Trans Nzoia's Wiyeta Girls.

Invigorated Kakamega High School's Green Commandos fired their way into the semi-finals after seeing off St Anthony, Chesamisi and St Paul Amukura.

The commandos who also enjoyed the twelfth man psyche humbled Amukura 3-1 in a powerful encounter that rejuvenated their intentions to feature in this year's finals that will be hosted at their backyard.

Khamis Majenga slotted home in the 12th minute while sensational Vitalis Okumu and Bernad Biko rifled in the 42nd and 58th minutes respectively.

Robert Mukhwana, an official, said competition had soared in this year's edition adding that the region will be better represented in the nationals than the previous year.

"I am looking forward to real explosive national games; we have very serious sides and the fact that we have seen seasoned sides bowing out of the competition is a strong message that competition has grown," noted Mukhwana.

Rueing their loss to Chesamisi, St Anthony heaped blame on poor officiating on their rude shocked campaign.

"We played well but biased officiating cost our side, what has happened however doesn't shake us and we shall continue practicing and building a team for the future," observed Coach Martin Kisiang'ani.