The 2023 Talanta Hela Under-19 national football tournament concluded in pomp and colour at Nyayo Stadium on Tuesday as Homa Bay and Busia were crowned champions in the boys’ and girls’ categories respectively.
In the scintillating boys’ final, Homa bay displayed pure class to thump Kisumu 4-2 in an action-packed encounter.
Cecil Miller put Homa Bay up just before halftime, and then Hamisi Otieno, Geoffrey Ouma, and Ben Ogutu scored three more goals in the second half.
Kisumu grabbed one back from the spot through Bavon Omondi and another off Tony Odhiambo, but it wasn’t enough to force a comeback.
Despite their heart-wrenching heartbreaks after losing in both the boys and girls finals, Kisumu County players won a majority of individual honours with Austin Otieno and Mercy Amwomo clinching the ‘Golden Boot’ accolades.
Kisumu’s Mercy Akoth also won the Best Gloves award with the boys honours going to Homa Bay’s Felix Reagan. Busia’s skipper Lorna Faith and Vihiga’s Austin Odongo Musa clinched the Most Valuable Player awards in the girls and boys categories respectively.
In the girls’ final at Nyayo stadium, Halima Imachi curled her effort into the top corner of the net in the 34th minute to fire Busia ahead after getting on the end of Faith Lornah’s sumptuous delivery into the area.
However, the celebrations were cut short barely three minutes later when Kisumu equalised. However, goals from Judith Nandwa and Glender Dorcas were enough to hand Busia an emphatic 3-1 win over Kisumu County.
President William Ruto led the high-profile dignitaries who graced the occasion, including Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba, and Homabay Governor Gladys Wanga
The victors went home with a whopping Sh5m prize purse while runners-up pocketed Sh3m as a consolation prize.
