St Anthony's, Nyakach bag national titles in Kisumu

St Anthony football team from Kitale (in red) vs Shimba Hills High School during the Kenya Secondary Schools Association Term Two national ball games at Moi Stadium in Kisumu County on July 30th 2019. The match ended 1-0 in favour of st. Anthony. [Collins Oduor, Standard]

After years of near-misses and heartbreaks, St Anthony's Boys Kitale finally recaptured Secondary Schools National Term Two games under 19 football title. 

Yesterday, the Rift Valley region students laboured to a 5-4 victory in post-match penalties over Nairobi's Dagoretti High to reclaim the crown they last won in 2012. Backed by home support in a packed Moi Stadium Kisumu, Nyakach bagged the girls crown after beating Itigo from Rift Valley 2-0 in the final. 

St Anthony's and Dagoretti battled to a barren draw in extra time at a Moi Stadium Kisumu setting the stage for post penalties. St Anthony's captain Tyson Kapchanga, Woodvine Okoth, Godfrey Onjuati, Cedric Muchina and Daniel Musamali were on target while Christopher Raila, Daniel Wamalwa and Kennedy Mwendwa missed. 

Dagoretti, on the other hand, scored through Simon Omondi, Paul Odhiambo, John William and Mwinyi Mohamed netted for Dagoretti. Taking the fifth penalty with the score 2-2, Lorren James had a chance to seal the victory for Dagoretti but failed to allow St Anthony's to fight on. 

Dagoretti captain Boniface Mwangemi missed the crucial penalty ushering St Anthony's and their supporters who began celebrating the end of six-year trophy drought. Derrick Omondi and Zablon Kutera also failed to beat St Anthony's goalie Wamalwa. St Anthony's coach Peter Mayoyo was over the moon saying he had achieved his goal.

"I wanted to win this title because it is my first with St Anthony's, I had won with Mombasa High before but I was yet to get it right since I joined the school in 2014. We have been working hard since we lost in 2017 final and finished third last year. We were determined to make it happen," Mayoyo said.

In girls' final, two goals in each half from Faith Omuyaku and Lanoline Aoko were enough to see Nyakach snatch the bragging rights.

Former national holders Archbishop Njenga from Western drubbed Njabini from Central 7-1 to grab the remaining slot to the East Africa games. Archbishop Njenga, Nyakach and Itigo will be tasked with ensuring they defend the East Africa title won by Kwale Girls last year in Musanze, Rwanda.

In under 16 Copa Coca Cola challenge, Serani from Coast and Wiyeta from Rift Valley were crowned after winning in their respective final matches. It was a bad day in the office for Western region teams as Koyonzo and Maeni failed to impress.

Serani edged out Koyonzo 1-0 while Wiyeta recaptured the title they won in 2016 after beating Maeni 2-1 in a tightly-contested final at Kisumu National Polytechnic. Juma Mwinyikai's 54th minute goal was enough to earn Serani the bragging rights in this year's continental championship. 

In girls' contest, Wiyeta sounded their hunger for glory with a goal three minutes into the match. Edna Wanda outclassed Maeni defenders and goalkeeper to give her side the lead. The goal ignited Maeni's hunt for an equalizer. However, their efforts were met by a resilient Wiyeta's tight defence for a 1-0 lead at the break.

On resumption, Noel Oruko restored parity in the 60th minute. Jacinta Karemana scored the winner in the six minutes later to give Wiyeta their second Copa title. Dagoretti High beat Boystown 4-2 in post-match penalties whereas Kobala dismissed Njabini 1-0 to finish third in the boys and girls under 16 challenge.