Green Commandos go down 4-3 in post match penalties

TERM 2B GAMES SECONDARY SCHOOLS . Kakamega Boy's Joshua Otieno (left) and Abdala Ramadhan of Upper Hill during Kenya Secondary School Sports Term 2B National Games at Nyeri Primary Moi Complex in Nyeri on Thursday, July 6, 2017. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

Upper Hill will lock horns with St Anthony’s Kitale in the boys’ final as curtains fall on this year’s Airtel Rising Stars National Secondary Schools Term Two B Games today at Moi Nyeri Complex Primary School.

Six-time national winners Wiyeta will battle Ibinzo in the girls final.

Nairobi Region champions Upper Hill send highly fancied Kakamega High’s Green Commandos packing 4-3 in post-match penalties in a nerve-racking semis encounter while St Anthony edged out Kathungi 1-0 to set the finals clash.

Upper Hill goalkeeper Duncan Okinyi won the match for the 2013 champions with three crucial saves.

Upper Hill scored through Daglas Mokaya, Peter Oudu, Tom Oluoch before Peter Oyier stepped up to convert the winning penalty sending Kakamega keeper Job Ochieng the wrong way.

The city boys are seeking to reclaim their crown after spending three years in the cold having failed to return to the nationals after winning the 2013 trophy.

Chris Alpha, Ronald Sichenje and Yusuf Mainge were spot on in their kicks for the Green Commandos, but their efforts could not secure them a place in today’s final.

Upper Hill coach Joseph Makokha admitted it was a tough encounter but praised his charges.

“We played our hearts out and matched them in all aspects of the game. We are determined to show the same fighting spirit tomorrow and complete the job,” Makokha said.

Upper Hill are eyeing a second title while St Anthony’s are seeking a fifth.

The sides only other previous meeting was the final of the 2012 final which St Anthony’s won 1-0.

Kakamega will only have themselves to blame for wasted chances having been the better side for the better part of the match that attracted crowds. The attacking trio of James Mazembe, Juma and Sichenje wowed the crowds with touches and footwork, but were kept at bay by the Upper Hill defence.

Mazembe came close to putting Kakamega ahead in in the 23rd minute but his free-kick was well saved by Okinyi.