Former Coast Region champions Serani keen to reclaim title

St Anthony's Secondary School versus Serani Boys in past action. [File, Standard]

Former Coast Region boys football champions Serani Secondary School are yearning to secure a return to the national games.

They are looking to be among the eight teams that will battle for glory at this year's Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National Term Two games set for July 28 to August 2 in Kakamega.

Having missed last year's national showpiece after being eliminated in the semis by their neighbours Tononoka Secondary School, they are now determined to recapture their regional gong and bag the region's lone ticket to Kakamega.

They, however, face an uphill task at the Coast Region games that begin tomorrow in Mpeketoni, Lamu. Serani coach Isaac Wandera said they expect stiff competition because schools have in recent years heavily invested in football hence raising the levels of competition.

"We have a very strong team this year and I believe they are capable of winning the trophy. Even so, we have to be at the top of things because it is not going to be easy. Schools have invested in football and any team that qualifies for the regional games is good enough to become champions," Wandera said.

He added that there has been massive growth in Mombasa County where the team finished second behind Tononoka after losing 11-12 in a penalty shootout after their final match ended in a 1-1 deadlock.

"For instance, here in Mombasa competition is very stiff and especially in boys' football where schools have invested heavily. Currently any team can win, schools like Tononoka, Moi Forces Academy as well as Khadija Secondary School are very strong."

Wandera revealed that last year after failing to qualify for the 2024 national games, they immediately embarked on preparations this year's competition.

Serani train under Bandari Football Club Youth team coaches with some of their key players also playing for the junior side.

They will be banking on the services of their goalkeepers Francis Katana and Shaban Ruwa, striker Erisat Orute, wingers Swaleh Jumah and Emmanuel Ngala as well as midfielders Emmanuel Oroni and Emmanuel Waita who all play for Bandari Youth.

They begin their title quest in Group B against Lamu County's Mokowe Secondary School. Serani will take on Kilifi's Jaribuni Secondary Schoon in their second match then end their preliminaries against Tana River's Kipao Secondary School.

Dr Aggrey from Taita Taveta County will launch their title hunt in Group A against Nzovuni Secondary School from Kwale and thereafter play Tononoka who they beat in last year's final and homeboys Kiungani Secondary School in their second and third pool encounters.