Africa-Press – Kenya. St Anthony’s Kitale head coach Peter Mayoyo has attributed the team’s success at the ongoing Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) national games to better preparations and commitment of the players to achieve their targets.
St Anthony’s — fondly known as Solidarity Boys— stunned Shanderema from Western by a solitary goal to book a place in the finals against Dagoretti High today (Saturday).
In the highly contested duel at Bukhungu Stadium, Kakamega Aldrine Kibet scored the only goal in the 29th minute.
“It was painful to lose last year but we had to go and prepare the team well for this year. We set our target to reach the finals of this year’s event and we have achieved that today,” said Mayoyo.
Commenting on their loss to Dagoretti in the last group match, he said: “As a coach, you can’t decide to lose a game just to face a certain team. You may end up losing the same. We lost the game and that remains at that point.”
In another semi-final clash, Nairobi’s Dagoretti booked their slot in the finals after overcoming Agoro Sare from Nyanza 3-1 in the penalty shootouts following a one-all draw in regular and extra-time.
This year’s final will be a repeat of the 2019 final in Kisumu, where Dagoretti won on post-match penalties. The two also met in the final Group ‘A’ match with Dagoretti winning 1-0.
In girls’ football, former champions Butere booked a final slot after beating Madira 1-0 courtesy of Diana Anyango’s first-half goal.
They will battle it out against defending champions Wiyeta who sailed into the finals after seeing off Dagoretti Mixed 3-1 in post-match penalties. The two sides had settled on a two-all draw after regular and extra time.
Butere head coach Howard Shikanda was thrilled after the team achieved one of their two targets; reaching the national finals while reiterating their desire to thrive at the regional games.
“We had two targets—first playing at the finals and representing Kenya at the East Africa school games and secondly, perform exemplary. I am so proud of my charges for the win and we now focus on winning the title. It will be difficult since we are playing against defending champions but we are also champions,” offered Shikanda.
In boys’ volleyball, last year finalists Namwela lost to Ruthimitu in straight sets of (23-25, 22-25, 23-25) while newcomers Andersen emerged 3-1 winners over Tumaini in 25-15, 22-25, 26-24 and 25-19.
In girls’ volleyball reigning champions Kwanthanze triumphed against Mwitoti in straight sets of 25-19, 25-20, and 25-17 while Rift Valley’s Kesogon humbled Soweto 3-0 (25-14, 25-15, 25-17).
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