St Joseph's Ong'icha players celebrate at Gusii Stadium on Sunday
St. Joseph’s Ong’icha will represent Kisii County at the Nyanza Region Secondary Schools Term Two Games starting Thursday in Kisumu.
Ong’icha booked the slot to represent Kisii, after edging a 10-man Sameta High School 5-4 on post-match penalties following a 2-2 draw after extra time at Gusii Stadium on Sunday morning.
The final was replayed after Sameta appealed against their disqualification for only registering 10 players on the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) portal.
Sameta won the appeal and officials ordered a replay.
Sameta were only allowed to field 10 players who registered on the KSSSA portal. However, after yesterday’s game, Sameta appealed again, claiming Ong’icha fielded ineligible players during the final.
Sameta's coach, Samuel Matara, said: “Ong’icha fielded ineligible players and we challenged the same. We are waiting for the verdict. We are ready to represent Nyanza even with 10 players,” he added.
Ong’icha is in Pool A alongside newly crowned Migori County champions Friends School Anjego, former regional champions Karabok, and Gordon Akoko’s debutants, Agai from Kisumu County.
Kisumu County champions Kisumu Day headline Pool B, where they will face St. Francis Gekendo from Nyamira, Siaya County powerhouses St. Mary’s School Yala, and St Joseph’s Rapogi.
The games will be played at Moi Stadium, Kisumu and Jomo Kenyatta Stadium, Mamboleo, from Thursday to Saturday, according to fixtures released by Nyanza Region Secondary Schools Sports Association (NRSSSA) secretary Tom Odhiambo.
New champions will be crowned after last year’s winners, Koderobara, were eliminated during the Migori County championships.
In the girls’ category, former champions Kobala will start their campaign to reclaim their title in Pool A, where they will battle Raywer, Mobamba, and Kudho from Kisumu.
Favourites Nyakach Girls are in Pool B alongside former champions Jera from Siaya, and Ikonge and Saye from Homa Bay County.
