Passenga, Wiyeta inch closer

Laiser Hills' Augustine Omondi vies for the ball with Passenga Secondary School's James Maina (right) during Secondary School Game match at Kisumu Boys High Schoo, Kisumu County on August 4, 2016.[PHOTO:DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD] Selected

Champions Passenga of Aberdare and Wiyeta of Nzoia Region are two matches away from retaining their Airtel Rising Stars (ARS) boys and girls football titles respectively. Passenga salvaged a point from their 1-1 draw against last year’s losing finalists and favourites Laiser Hill Academy of Metropolitan to finish second in pool B with five points and book their semis slot.

Passenga were on the verge of crushing out and relinquishing their crown after being held to a one-all-draw by debutantes Green Palms Academy from Coast. Peter Kinyanjui scored for Laiser Hill while Kennedy Mwangi leveled for Passenga through a penalty.

They now have an uphill task against high flying home boys Barding in the semis. The Lake Region students riding on home support have been impressive and remain unbeaten as they inch closer to winning their maiden schools gong.
 

Other boys’ semis tie will see last year’s silver medalists Laiser Hill take on minnows Friends School Bukembe of Nzoia Region. Newcomers Bukembe saved the best for last outwitting regulars Kathungi of Highlands to earn their first national victory in their edging them out 1-0.

With three points in their basket and in dire need of a victory to stay in the competition the Bungoma County students came out stronger trouncing Mau’s Cheptenye 5-0.
Victor Omondi starred for Bukembe bagging a hat-trick in the seventh, 34th and 35th minutes while Wycliffe Wanyonyi scored a brace in the 10th and 39th minutes. Green Palms ended their run in style with an 8-2 win over Northern’s Sabunley while Barding played to a 2-2 draw against Kathungi.

Unstoppable ARS queens Wiyeta on the other hand, finished their girls group B matches on a high with a 2-0 trouncing of rivals St John’s Kaloleni of Coastal Region. Stella Anyango and Maureen Khakasa scored for Wiyeta while St John’s had two goals disallowed for off side. Wiyeta now have home girls Nyakach to reckon with as they seek a finals slot.

Skipper Helen Awino told Feverpitch that their main objective is to retain their crown and they are ready for any opponent. “We want to defend our trophy and we are determined to make it happen. We are not afraid of any team not even the home girls (Nyakach) because we don’t dictate who we play. We will take the battle to them and victory is all we are after,” Awino said.

Wiyeta topped pool B with nine points and they will face off with Nyakach who finished second in pool A with five points after they were forced to a 2-2 deadlock against Aberdare’s Nginda. St John’s Kaloleni who finished second with six points in pool B from two wins and a draw will tackle unbeaten Nginda in the second girls last four tie. All semifinalists in football and volleyball booked their tickets to the East Africa extravaganza to be staged in Eldoret later in the month.