SCHOOLS: Chaos in Nyanza as Matutu PAG send defending champs Agoro Sare home
Football
By
Washington Onyango
| Jul 12, 2024
Agoro Sare's Collins Onyango battles for the ball against Matutu Secondary school player at Cardinal Otunga High School Mosocho during Nyanza Regional Secondary school games. [Sammy Omingo, Standard]
The ugly scenes of hooliganism returned to haunt the Nyanza Region Secondary School games on Friday again after defending champions Agoro Sare High School was knocked out of the Term Two football competition.
The games had begun on Wednesday on the back foot after the opening football boys match between Agoro Sare and Kisumu Day was postponed due to crowd trouble same as Matutu PAG match against Sameta being abandoned in the 85th minute.
On Friday, Nyamira County champions Matutu PAG knocked out Agoro Sare 2-0 in the semifinals played at Cardinal Otunga Mosocho before hell broke loose as fans of Agoro Sare stormed the pitch as they allegedly attacked the referees and Matutu fans.
The situation escalated further as both fans started pelting stones at each other leading to the huge crowd at Cardinal Otunga to spill to the volleyball courts and rugby field ending the semifinals that were ongoing at the respective fields.
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In volleyball semis, Sagegi were tied 1-1 with Gogo while Nyabondo was leading 2-1 against Nyabisia when the match was disrupted while St Mary's Yala were leading 12-7 against Kisii School when the rugby sevens semifinals was cut short with two minutes left.
The football girls semifinal pitting defending champions St Mary's Lwak Girls and Nyakach Girls also failed to kick off due to the chaos.
Matutu PAG head coach Joseph Ongoro was injured in the process and rushed to the hospital alongside a few of the players.
Nyanza Region Secretary Tom Odhiambo told the Standard Sports the disrupted matches will be played today very early in the morning.
"It's so unfortunate for what happened and we condemn the fans that were involved in the fracas. Nyanza doesn't condone hooliganism and we shall take stern action ahead of the finals today," said Odhiambo.
Meanwhile, Koderobara High School will face Matutu PAG in the finals of the football boys after knocking out Ambira High School 2-0.
Samson Gadson scored in each half as the Migori County champions pose a serious push for the regional gong.
In football girls only played semifinal, Alara from Homa Bay knocked out Hawinga 4-1. Alara will await to play the winner between Lwak Girls and Nyakach today. The second semifinal will kick off at 7am.