High profile Kamukunji face youthful Lang’ata

By Oscar Pilipili

It will be a show of might as champions Kamukunji and Lang’ata parade their best talent for Nairobi secondary schools boys’ football final at Upper Hill today.

The meeting is a repeat of last year’s final in which Kamukunji overcame Lang’ata 2-1.

Both teams boast great players some of them plying their trade in Kenyan Premier League and second tier Nationwide League.

Kamukunji line-up has Gor Mahia wonder boy George Odhiambo who has earned a call-up to national team Harambee Star.

Kamukunji Games Teacher, Sophy Makoba, is backing Odhiambo to successfully lead their campaign against Lang’ata.

Ground Breaking

"Odhiambo is self-driven, focused and eager to break grounds in football," Makoba said during training yesterday.

"He reminds me of our former players McDonaldo Mariga and Victor Mugabe who were equally self-driven and willing to excel," she said.

Kamukunji coach Charles Handas will call upon the services of Nairobi City Stars pair of Eric Onyango and Robert Mbugua and AFC Leopards midfielder Tom Wango.

Others in their ranks are under-20 national team and Mathare Youth left winger John Odhiambo and Vincent Oduor from super league side Kariobangi Sharks.

Despite having a sturdy outfit, Makoba was non-committal over the outcome of the match as she said: "Kamukunji is not the best team in Kenya, but they can compete favourably."

Clean Riding

"Any one of the two teams can win and whichever side triumphs will represent Nairobi and I’m a Nairobian," she said.

From the other end, the status of Fisa Academy comes under severe test what with Lang’ata drawing a bulk of its players from the Nationwide team.

Coach Nyongesa Wandambusi cautioned that although his line-up lacks high profile players, his youthful team was capable of containing Kamukunji.

"They (Kamukunji) may be having big names like Odhiambo but school football is different from premier league," he warned.

He boasted that his defense that includes Edward Mambo, Musa Mohammed, Desmond Ouma and Boniface Livasia was concrete since they have conceded just one goal in the last four matches of the championship.

"My strikers have recorded an average of three goals per match. They are sharp and have ability to penetrate Kamukunji rearguard," he said.

Wandambusi will choose his strikers from Kevin Omondi, Leonard Ochieng, Kevin Okoko and Solomon Okeyo who all play for Fisa.

Lang’ata will, however, miss the services of influential striker David Gateri who is with under-20 national team in Egypt.

Wandambusi downplayed Gateri’s absence saying Lang’ata have won without him before.