National secondary school football Under-16 champions St. Anthony of Kitale started their Rift Valley region campaign on a sour note as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Nakuru’s Menengai Boys in Eldoret yesterday.
St. Anthony drew first blood barely four minutes into the match as Christopher Raila wrong-footed Menengai’s goalkeeper Mike Ng’ang’a. Dut Kulang’a equalised for Menengai— scoring from a rebound from St.Anthony’s goalkeeper Victor Omondi after 15 minutes of play. Efforts by St. Antony to increase the tally flopped as
they headed to the break with a 1-1 deadlock.
St. Anthony, the 2001 East African champions, were handed an upper hand after Menengai’s Brian Muramba was sent off after a second bookable offence two minutes into the second half.
However, the heavily built Menengai managed to suppress their opponents and thwart all the attacks as they held on to bag a precious point. St. Anthony’s tactician Moses Kebengwa congratulated his side for a good game but alleged they were playing against illegitimate players in terms of age. “We played well and I must congratulate the boys for playing against a stronger team in terms of size and age. We have appealed for the matter to be re-looked into. From the face value, you can see that they are older than my team,” Kebengwa said. In Pool ‘D’, Uasin Gishu’s Mwiruti Boys’ beat Elgeyo Marakwet’s Simotwo 2-1. Sammy Moiya scored a brace for the winners in 17th and 51st minutes before Dennis Kipkoech pulled one back for Simotwo on the hour mark.
In Pool ‘A’, Beusang from Kajiado started the campaign in style, beating Boito of Bomet 2-0 while Bartolimo from Baringo narrowly won 3-2 against Ortum from West Pokot in Pool ‘C’. National girls’ champions Wiyeta beat former national champions Tartar Girls 1-0 in a Pool ‘A’ match while in Pool B’s
Nandi’s Sochoi shone against Laikipia’s Gatero in 1-0 victory courtesy of Francisca Atieno’s 7th minute strike.
Senior Chief Riisa of Kajiado drew 0-0 with Anin from ElegyoMarakwet County in Pool ‘A’ while the hosts Ngeria from Uasin Gishu beat Boito 2-0 in Pool ‘C’.
National games regulars Cheptil and Kipkenyo netball teams had a good start in their respective matches.
Cheptil humiliated Kalokol 57-4 in their opening match while Kaptagat ran over St. Sicilia 38-17. Uasin Gishu’s Kipkenyo defeated Gatero 21-5 while Beusang narrowly beat Marinying 22-21.
Former boys’ handball national champions Kitany had to fight hard to overcome stiff challenge from Ziwani, winning 18-15 in Pool ‘B’.
In Pool ‘A’ girls’ handball encounter, former national champions St. Francis Cheptarit thrashed St. Kevins 34-4 while in Pool ‘B’, St.Joseph’s Nyasi beat Olioborsoit 13-2.