St Anthony’s Boys and Malava Girls surrender national trophies

By OSCAR PILIPILI  and FRANCIS ONTOMWA

Nairobi,Kenya:Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) secretary general David Ngugi once said that the era of dominant teams is long gone.

In what is being viewed as a new beginning in high school games, teams that were hitherto not known are taking the stage by storm by dismissing big boys and girls of the co-curriculum activities.

Major upsets have been witnessed in this year’s Championships across the country with big names being eliminated at county level.

Most of the shocking results came from the hot zone of Nzoia region where favourite teams were eliminated from this year’s show.

Leading the casualties list is Kakamega’s Green Commandos football team that was highly favoured to clinch county title.

BIG DOWNFALL

But form books were turned upside down after fearful Commandos went down 1-0 against Mautuma in Kakamega county boys’ football final.

Mautuma showed they are true giant killers after they eliminated East African and National champions Malava in girls’ volleyball semi-finals.

Mautuma also showed class in girls’ football by qualifying for the final only to loss to eventual winners Ibinzo.

Nevertheless, Mautuma has two teams in the Nzioa region games to be staged at Nasokol and Chebwoyet High in West Pokot county on July 18-21.

The Nzoia region games that are being touted as “mini nationals” will also be without boys’ football kingpins and defending champions St Anthony’s who lost to Bwake from Cherengani 1-0 in Trans Nzoia County final.

LODGED AN APPEAL

But St Anthony’s have officially lodged an appeal with regional body and quality assurance officials in bid to overturn the results.

St Anthony’s head coach Patrick Munika claims that he has concrete evidence to the effect that Bwake fielded a number of ineligible players during the match.

“We’ve presented our appeal to relevant bodies and they have promised to investigate the case and rule on it on Monday,” Munikah told FeverPitch yesterday.

In Nakuru region, Cheptil girls’ volleyball team exit the Championships after they lost 3-0 (17-25, 24-26, 19-25, 25-14, 12-15) against Kosirai in Nandi county games final.

Some of the big names still surviving are girls’ football champions Tartar who beat St Cecilia Chepariera 3-0 in West Pokot County show to qualify for the regionals alongside the runners-up.

Tartar coach Patrick Natoka said: “The regionals would be very tough and we expect a lot of challenge.”

In Mombasa county, Tononoka who were losing finalists at the nationals three years ago went down 4-1 in boys football final to quit the race.

More upsets cannot be ruled out as the games move to regional level this week.