Will Highway break the over two decades football champions' jinx?

Highway Secondary School players celebrate after lifting the Nairobi Regional boys football title at Nairobi School, on July 12, 2025. [Jonah Onyango, Standard] From the end of the long-standing KANU rule to the peaceful handover of power by the late President Daniel Arap Moi to his successor, the late President Mwai Kibaki, marking the end of the former's 24-year governance, 2002 was indeed a significant year in Kenyan history. The country was in campaigns mode. Politicians were not only crisscrossing the country in hunt for votes but also forming formidable alliances like the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) that would eventually ascend to power. Away from politics, something good was happening at Kamukunji Secondary School. Tucked at the centre of the dusty Burma Jua Kali market, the famous Gikomba market, the now neglected Muthurwa Estate and the infamous Machakos Country bus a stone throw away, Kamukunji was gearing up for battle. Yes, they were facing a huge battle. They had just won the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) national boys' football title the previous year and were now every team's target at the 2002 national games held in Malindi, Kilifi District now Kilifi County. With Kibra Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Orero as the coach and current Football Kenya Federation (FKF) vice president Macdonald Mariga as the captain, Kamukunji left no room for mistakes. They had a wonderful season and successfully defended their title. Mariga would go on to play professional football in Europe and become the only Kenyan player to have won the UEFA Champions League trophy so far. He etched his name in the annals of European and global football when he won the prestigious trophy with Italian Serie A side Inter Milan in 2010. The defensive midfielder was a key player for Harambee Stars for more than 15 years. He also tried his luck in politics contesting for the Kibra Parliamentary seat against his former teacher and coach Orero. Long-serving Ulinzi Stars captain Geoffry Kokoyo, former Mathare United attacking midfielder Joseph Nyaga and Gor Mahia Queens coach Francis Ochola are among the 2002 Kamukunji golden boys who tormented their opponents leaving an indelible mark. While Mariga, Kokoyo, Nyaga, Ochola together with all their peers have retired from competitive football, no school has been able to defend the national title with KSSSA crowning a different champion each year. In a previous interview, Orero, who identified and nurtured many athletes in various sports, said he was able to bring the best out of his players by identifying and understanding their strengths and weaknesses. "I did things differently because I went beyond the pitch. I was particularly interested in all aspects of my players' lives which involved even getting to know their backgrounds, strengths and weaknesses on and off the pitch. They were all unique in their own ways and so knowing them helped me get the best out of them based on their individuality," Orero said. Hospital Hill principal Kennedy Bunyasi, who served as the team manager, remembered most of the players with nostalgia revealing some of their strengths that helped the team excel. "They were a special crop of players. Mariga was destined for greatness and wanted it, hence utilising every opportunity he got to push himself closer to his goals. He could score from any angle. Nyaga was a dead-ball specialist and though diminutive, Ochola was a superb midfielder," Bunyasi said. They were indeed a special crop of players for their successors have failed to achieve the feat 22 years down the line. Since 2003, 12 schools have won the national trophy. St Anthony's Boys High School Kitale have bagged six out of the 20 titles, but have not also been able to win in two consecutive years. Some schools like Thurgem Secondary School, St Mark Mokorogoinwa, St Mark Mokorogoinwa, Gekomoni Secondary School, Passenga Secondary School and Ebwali Secondary School took the national stage by storm but only won the trophy once before disappearing. Fast forward to 2025 and reigning champions Highway Secondary School are looking to make what seems impossible, possible. Unlike other titleholders who struggled and even failed to qualify for the national games after winning the trophy, they remain in the race and are among eight teams that will be battling for bragging rights at the KSSSA National Term Two games that begin tomorrow in Kakamega. Highway, who will be making their third national appearance, have made a good account of themselves since making their debut in 2022. They were remarkable winning silver at both the national and East Africa games held in Arusha, Tanzania. Despite losing 1-0 to Ebwali in the final, they staged a brilliant show in Arusha defying odds to reach the final. They shocked the region when they beat Ugandan giants and East Africa record champions St Mary's Kitende 1-0. However, they were unlucky in 2023 as they lost the Nairobi Region title to Dagoretti High hence missing the national contest. They returned with a bang last year edging out 1984 national champions Musingu High School 3-2 in post-match penalties to win their maiden gong. The two sides had played to a one-all-draw in regular and extra time. With Musingu enjoying home support, St Joseph's High School Kitale (Rift Valley) looking to improve on last year's third-place finishing and Kirangari Secondary School (Central) making their third straight appearance, Highway must fire from all cylinders to escape woes that befell previous winners. The return of Serani Secondary School from Coast also poses a major threat to their title defence ambitions. They should also be wary of newcomers Agai Mixed Secondary School from Nyanza, Moi High School Mbiruri from Eastern and North Eastern's Garissa High School who will be determined to prove that they are no pushovers.Highway principal Irungu Nduati, who has played a key role in building the team and spurring them to greater heights, said they are prepared for the challenge. "We are ready and the boys understand what this year's competition means. They know they have what every other team wants and must work harder than they did last year lest the opponents get their way," Irungu said. They launch their title defence in Group B against St Joseph's Kitale, Serani and Kirangari. Serani will be looking to make a memorable return to the national stage as well as improving on their 2023 fifth-place finish. Kirangari on the other hand will be hoping to break into the top three having finished fourth in Kisii last year. They lost to St Joseph's 6-0 in third-place play-offs and missed a ticket to the East Africa games held in Mbale, Uganda. Homeboys Musingu, who are looking to end four decades of national trophy drought, are favourites to advance from Group A that also has debutants Agai, Moi Mbiruri and Garissa High. The Scorpions are determined to capitalise on home advantage and bring smiles on their fans' faces. Musingu last won the title in 1984, but have for decades, they have lived in the shadows of sleeping giants Kakamega High School.

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Will Highway break the over two decades football champions' jinx?

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