Schools: Green Commandos plot to reclaim football title as secondary schools games beckon

Kakamega hope to rise again:

kenya secondary schools term two A games finals Kakamega Boys soccer players commonly known as Green Commandos celebrates as they carry their goalkeeper Reinny Omondi shoulder high after winning the 2017 Kenya Secondary Schools Term Two A Games championship in soccer at Shanzu Teachers Training College, June 10, 2017. Kakamega won 4-3 in a penalty shoot out after a barren draw with Passenga High School. [PHOTO BY GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD].

Former boys’ national champions eager to bag 13th title in Nyeri games.

Fallen giants Kakamega High School’s Green Commandos will seek to reclaim the title in this year’s Secondary Schools national Term Two B games set for next month in Nyeri.

The 12-time national champions, who are making a return to the finals after a two-year absence, will be hoping to regain their footing and take back their rightful place at the helm of boys’ football.

Green Commandos booked their ticket to the nationals after a hard fought 2-1 victory over their Kakamega County rivals St Ignatius Mukumu in the Western Region final.

Kakamega last featured in the national games when they hosted the 2014 edition. Since then, they have struggled to make it past the Nzoia Region.

In 2015, they were eliminated by St Anthony’s Kitale, who won an appeal against Kakamega, forcing a rematch to decide the region’s representative to the nationals.

They lost 1-0 in the replay at Machakos, one day before the national games kicked off. Last year, they failed to shine in regional games, with Friends School Bukembe winning the trophy and a slot to the national extravaganza.

They return to the national scene full of expectations and determination to claim back the trophy. Exuding confidence, Kakamega coach Brendan Mwinamo said the senior team will want to emulate their Under-16? brothers, who won the Copa Coca-Cola national crown in Mombasa.

“We have been working very hard in preparation for this year’s task.

“My players are determined to excel because they feel challenged and inspired by the junior team’s achievements,” Mwinamo said, adding that this year’s competition will be tougher because teams have recruited well and new ones are coming up.

They will face 2015 winners Passenga of Central, who will be enjoying home support, Kanga High of Nyanza, Ramisi of Coast, regulars Kathungi of Eastern, 2013 champions Upper Hill of Nairobi and a North Eastern representative.

They will renew rivalry with St Anthony’s, who won the Rift Valley gong.

Kakamega will depend on Joshua Otieno, fondly referred to as the Hull City boy by his teammates.

Otieno burst into the limelight after making the SportPesa All Stars team that played Hull City at KCOM Stadium in Kingston, England, early this year.

Others are Henry Juma and Jackson Odhiambo, who have been instrumental in their campaign this year.