Kobala eager to make a memorable return to the East Africa stage

Kobala and Saye players in action during regional games. [Michael Mute, Standard]

After many years in the cold, Kobala Secondary School football team is determined to make a remarkable return to the East Africa games.

The Homabay-based side will be making their second appearance at the annual games having made their debut in 2015. They qualified for the games this year after finishing fourth at the National Term Two games. They lost 3-4 to Nasokol Girls High School in post-match penalties after their third-place play-offs duel had ended in a 1-1 draw.

Despite qualifying for the regional games as the fourth Kenyan side, Kobala coach Julius Aminga revealed that their main objective is to play in the final.

"Our preparations are going on well and being in camp has helped us because we have enough time to train and improve based on the areas we discovered needed strengthening during the national games," Aminga said.

He revealed that his charges are excited to return to FEASSSA games after many years of failed attempts.

"Every team's ultimate goal is to qualify for these games and we have been trying for years. The girls are in high spirits, raring to go and make their presence felt," Aminga added.

Kobala are among four Kenyan teams that will be looking to dethrone Uganda's St Noa and recapture the title last won by Kwale Girls in 2018.

Since then, the Kenyan girls have been playing second fiddle to Ugandans. Last year, national champions Butere Girls High School came close to recapturing the title but fell short after losing by a solitary goal to St Noa in the final. National finalists Madira Girls, who return to the games, will also be in the mix.

Coach Aminga will rely on the services of attacking midfielder Sheila Awuor, Beffine Shalley right-wing attack, striker Khadija Furaha and defender Brenda Awuor and goalkeeper Scovia Awuor to take the lead. They are in Group B alongside compatriots Butere and Archbishop Njenga, Fountain Gate from Tanzania, Amus College and Boni Concilli from Uganda.

Madira and Nasokol are in Group A together with Alliance Secondary from Tanzania, St Noa and Kawempe Muslim as well PSSB Huye from Rwanda.