The central region finished fifth in the national rankings during the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) Nationals ball games held at Mpesa Foundation Academy in Thika, Kiambu County.
The week-long tournament concluded with St Joseph’s Kitale and Kakamega School emerging champions in girls’ and boys’ football, respectively, while Kinale Girls from Kiambu clinched the rugby title.
In football, Central Region representatives Baricho Boys from Kirinyaga and Karibaribi Senior School from Kiambu put up spirited performances but failed to progress to the knockout stages, finishing sixth in the overall rankings.
Nyakach Girls, the 2019 champions and 2024 national finalists, narrowly missed the title after losing to St Joseph’s Kitale Girls through a penalty shootout.
The two teams played to a 1-1 draw in normal time, with Nyakach scoring first before St Joseph’s Kitale equalised later in the match. Both sides failed to find a winner during extra time, forcing the game into penalties.
St Joseph’s Kitale won 7-6 on penalties, with each team missing one attempt, to secure the national title. Both finalists, together with Archbishop Njenga, qualified to represent Kenya at the Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSA).
In the boys’ football final, Kakamega School defeated St Mary’s Yala 3-2 in an entertaining encounter to reclaim the championship for the Western Region.
Kakamega, popularly known as the Green Commandos, opened the scoring early in the first half through a corner kick before St Mary’s Yala levelled through a free kick.
St Mary’s took the lead in the second half, but Kakamega equalised through Wanyonyi, who headed in a free kick to force the match into extra time.
During extra time, Kakamega capitalised on a collision involving two Yala players to score the decisive goal and secure the trophy.
The victory saw the championship return to Western Region after St Antony’s Kitale won the title last year.
The last time a boys’ football team from Nyanza won the KSSSA national crown was in 2011 when Gekomoni defeated Tononoka 4-3 through post-match penalties.
In rugby, Kinale Girls from Kiambu booked a place at FEASSA after defeating Mbakalo Friends Girls Senior School from Bungoma 19-7 in the semi-finals.
Kinale went on to win the final 12-10 against Kimobo Senior School from Nandi County to claim the national title.
The Kiambu side will represent Kenya at the FEASSA rugby girls’ competition scheduled for Morogoro, Tanzania, alongside Kimobo Girls and Mbakalo Girls.
Other Central Region rugby representatives recorded mixed results, with Gatondo Girls, Karima Girls and Gitambura Senior School finishing 16th, 15th and 14th, respectively.
In volleyball, Kiambaa Boys and Kaharo Girls Secondary School both finished sixth overall.
Pioneer Boys and Mangu High School secured ninth and sixth positions, respectively, in basketball, while Kerugoya Girls and Alliance Girls finished ninth and 14th, respectively.
By Joshua Kyalo
