Barding High School players celebrate scoring against Passenga Secondary School their Secondary School Game football match at Kenyatta Stadium, Kisumu County on August 5, 2016.[PHOTO:DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD]

Homeboys Barding and Metropolitan’s Laiser Hill Academy lock horns today in the battle for this year’s Airtel Rising Stars Term 2B secondary school game boys football title.

Moi Stadium Kisumu will be a battlefield when the two top sides clash. Fireworks are expected as reigning queens Wiyeta square it out with bitter rivals St John’s Kaloleni of Coastal Region in the girls’ deciding encounter.

On fire Barding drubbed last year’s champions Passenga 2-0 in the semi-finals. Benjamin Ojiambo starred for Barding and scored a brace to send his team into the finals. Barding skipper John Oginga told Feverpitch that today is a big day for them as they seek to make history as the first Siaya County school to win the national trophy.

“We have to be at our best because our fans are expecting a lot from us and we are under pressure to please them. They have believed in us and supported us from the Sub-County level and we are now in the national finals,” Oginga said.

Ojiambo announced Barding’s intended win five minutes into play after outclassing Passenga defense and goalkeeper Francis Odemba.

They controlled the game, launching one attack after the other in Passenga’s territory as Ojiambo, Ziko Kombo, Clement Okiring and Albert Baraza surged forward in hunt of more goals. They were in full control of the game pinning Passenga in their own half for the better part of the match.

After many failed attempts, Odemba’s mistake of handling the ball outside the box proved costly as Ojiambo sent a killer-shot from a free kick into the left corner of the net to make it 2-0 in the 45th minute.

Upon resumption Passenga played their hearts out but their efforts were thwarted by Barding’s brilliant defense led by Oginga, Lameck Otunga and Abubakar Sadiki.

Passenga suffered a  etback when they were reduced to ten men after James Maina was sent off in the 55th minute but Barding’s Dennis Oduor was also sent off in the 76th minute for a dangerous foul.

Laiser Hill beat debutants Friends School Bukembe 3-2 to secure a finals slot. Richard Odanda, Joseph Waithaka and Kelvin Owino scored for Laiser Hill while Victor Omondi bagged a brace for Bukembe.

Laiser Hill captain David ‘Messi’ Owino said that they will settle for nothing less than the trophy and they are not afraid of Barding’s home support. “The crowds are least of our concerns because we know how to deal with them. We will win them over first, have their support and go ahead to achieve our goal.”

Wiyeta trounced home girls Nyakach 2-0 to remain on course to retain the title. Judith Musimbi and Stella Anyango scored for Wiyeta in either half. They take arch rivals St John’s who had the hardest way to the final as they beat Nginda 6-5 in post-match penalties.

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