Red Bees to face Mahanga in Betika Oguso Cup finals

Chris Onguso (with mask) greets players before the start of his annual tournament at Chavavo secondary school in Vihiga County.[Eric Lungai, Standard]

Madzuu Ladies and Young Ladies will face off in the women’s finals to be played in Vihiga County.

Red Bees FC will clash with Mahanga Boda Boda FC as the 10th edition of the Chris Onguso annual tournament ends this Sunday at Chavavo High School in Vihiga County.

The Betika-sponsored tournament will kick off with the women’s final at 10am where Madzuu Ladies will face Young Ladies.

The women’s category attracted eight teams with Madzuu Ladies beating Lakers and Young Ladies eliminating Itabalia FC in the semi-finals to qualify for the finals.

In the evening, a star-studded curtain-raiser between Kenya’s ex-internationals “Wazee wa Kazi” and Vihiga’s Wazee wa Kazi FC will be played before the men’s final.

Israel Scud pose for a group photo during the onset of Chris Onguso Cup at Chavavo secondary school in Vihiga County. [Eric Lungai, Standard]

On the road to the men’s final, Red Bees FC, who are the defending champions, beat Rangers FC 5-4 on post-match penalties to glide into the finals after a barren draw in regular time.

On the other hand, Mahanga Boda Boda beat Black Santos 5-4 on post-match lotteries after a 1-1 draw in normal time.

According to host Oguso, former Harambee Stars captain Dennis Oliech will lead a team of former Harambee Stars internationals including Musa Otieno, Francis Chinjili, Francis Oduor ‘Killer’, John Shoto Lukoye and Josephat Murila.

Others include Richard Asabe, George Sunguti, Boniface Ambani, Fred Ambani, Nicholas Muyoti, Francis Oduor, Reginald Asibwa, Francis Chinjili, Omar Shaban, Oscar Kadenge, Evans Kadenge, Jacob Ananda, Zablon Amanaka and Washington Kamadi.

Started by former Kenyan National Football League club Nakuru Police FC player Christopher Onguso in 2011, the tournament has expanded from four teams to 48 male and female teams.

“I started this tournament in 2011 as a non-political tournament whose goals and objectives are to empower the youth and give back to the community.”

“I came up with this idea after I saw what teams in my county, Vihiga, go through in terms of talent nurturing, providing sports gears to different teams and exposing the youth to scouts from the bigger leagues to spot them,” said Oguso, who is a Chief Inspector of Police.

Onguso has since attracted sponsorship from betting firm Betika and next year, he plans on the tournament including teams from the entire county, representing the constituencies of Vihiga, Hamisi, Sabatia, Luanda and Emuhaya.

 “Nyale Munga, an Assistant Inspector General of Police, who is the Principal Assistant to the IG will be the guest of honour,” Oguso said.

With the Betika sponsorship permitting, Onguso projects that the prize money for the winners will be Sh200,000 with second and third place teams taking Sh100,000 and Sh50,000 respectively.