- It was the girls' team that set the ball rolling to beat last year's semifinalists Germany 1-0 with Elizabeth Mideva Lwangu scoring the only goal.
- The boys kept the momentum by beating last year's quarter finalists Benin 2-1 in their debut match.
Image: EDUMIN/ X
Team Kenya's dream started off on a positive note in the ongoing football world school championship in Dalian, China.
It was the girls' team that set the ball rolling to beat last year's semifinalists Germany 1-0 with Elizabeth Mideva Lwangu scoring the only goal of the match in the 69th minute.
The boys kept the momentum by beating last year's quarter finalists Benin 2-1 in their debut match.
Benin lost by a solitary goal to eventual winners France in last year's torunament.
In the tight game, Kenya broke the deadlock early after Robert Mutie shot one past Benin goalkeeper after just 11 minutes.
Eleven minutes later, Nawas Sailou equalised for Benin.
Coach Mayoyo fixed his troops in the right frame during half-time, for just eight minutes into the second half, Austine Odongo sealed the game with Kenya's second goal.
Ahead of the remaining matches, coach Mayoyo pointed out to his players that young West African players are their biggest threat.
"We have to be wary of the West Africans, they are a very good team," Mayoyo said.
The Kenyan boys are set to face another uphill fixture as they are going to face hosts China-Tapei who are in good form.
The case isn't different for the girls as they are going to face last year's quarter finalists England who already won their first match of the tournament 3-0 against Ghana.
In the draw that took place in April, Kenya's girls' team was pooled in the group of death.
The group includes last year’s bronze medalist Uganda and Germany who they beat to clinch the bronze and quarter-finalists England.
On top of the formidable opponents, the team was as late as this month not certain about their participation in the tournament hence hampering their preparation.
Not any different with the boys' team, coach Mayoyo hurriedly assembled his squad roughly a week to the bonanza after weeks of agonising uncertainty about their participation in the tournament which will run until May 27.
Even though they have managed to contain Benin, Chinese-Taipei who are likely to enjoy home support lie in wait.
Also in the group are Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) Games silver medalists Amus College from Uganda.
The neighbours achieved the feat in their impressive showing in Huye City, Rwanda.
Kenya faces Amus in her final game of the group.
Amus leads the group following their powerful showcase where they thrashed Chinese-Taipei 7-2.
The championship attracted 37 Boy teams and 19 Girl teams making a total of 19 countries and 1,176 participants.