SCHOOLS: Highway and Butere Girls crowned national football champions

Highway Secondary school football player vies for the ball against Musingu Boys player during their match at Gusii Stadium. [Sammy Omingo, Standard]

Highway Secondary School and Butere Girls High School are the 2024 KSSSA National football champions.

Ten-man Highway were crowned the new football boy's champions on Thursday afternoon after seeing off Musingu School 3-2 on post-match penalties.

On the other hand, Butere Girls edged out Nyakach Girls 2-0 to retain their title in the finals played at Gusii Stadium in Kisii

The girl's final was first to kick off from 9.30am where Lorna Faith gave the holders an 18^th minute lead before Mercy Sakwa sealed the win with a 72^nd minute penalty as Butere Girls emerged 2-0 winners.

"Congratulations to the girls. This is a deserved win because we were the better side today despite losing to Nyakach during the preliminaries. We wanted this win more and now we shift our focus to east Africa," said Butere coach Howard Shikanga.

In the main final, the match pitting Highway and Musingu ended 1-1 after regular time and extra 30 minutes.

Elvis Ochieng opened the scores for Musingu after a simple tap in in the 14^th minute when Highway goalkeeper Boaz Mushiri failed to hold on to Musingu's Harrison Amaelmba's cross into the box, a delivery that was deflected before falling onto Ochieng for an easy goal.

The goal woke the sleeping Highway players who through their talisman Humphrey Aroko and Alvin Oloo took matters onto their own hands by dictating play.

The duo synchronization would pay off in the 32^nd minute when Aroko released a simple pass from the midfield that found Oloo open before the midfielder sent a 20-yard thunderbolt that beat a flying Arnold Chivachi in goal for Musingu and tie the scores at 1-1.

In the second half, a series of hits and misses followed as both team searched for the winner.

Against the run of play, Highway would be dealt a big blow in added time when their captain Osotsi was shown a red card for a dangerous tackle on Kevin Manani.

Despite being down a man, Highway held on to finish the match 1-1 and head to extra time.

No goals would be witnessed in extra time also forcing the match to be decided on post-match penalties.

Manani was first to take the penalty for Musingu, an attempt that hit the cross bar before Fredrick Onyango saw his penalty saved by Mushiri in goal for Highway.

Stanley Nelson and Amalemba Harrison were the only Musingu players to score their spot kicks.

On the other hand, Humphrey Aroko, Luis Ochieng and Tyronne Ochieng converted their spot kicks for Highway.

However, it was Mushiri who emerged the hero for Highway after saving Musingu's fifth penalty attempt by Valentine Isalambo to seal a 3-2 win for the Nairobi champions.

Despite losing, Musingu School will be among the three schools set to represent Kenya at the East Africa games in Uganda later this month.

Musingu and Highway will be joined by St Joseph Boys Kitale in Mbale.

St Joseph Boys hammered Kirangari 6-0 in the third place playoffs.

In the girl's category, St Joseph Girl Kitale saw off Kombani 1-0 to finish third and also qualify for East Africa.