St Mary's School Yala eye elusive Nyanza region football title

Despite dominating the Nyanza region schools' sports scene for years, St Mary’s School Yala have never captured the boys' football title.

This year, however, the "Black Saints" enter the Nyanza region championships as hot favourites. The championships will be held from July 7 to 11 at Homa Bay Senior School and Ogande Girls, with additional matches scheduled for Tom Mboya University and Raila Odinga Stadium.

Under the tutelage of Chief Principal V.O. Makanda, Yala currently hold regional titles in rugby 15s, rugby 7s, handball, and 5x5 basketball. When the regional games get underway on Tuesday, Yala will also challenge for the 3x3 basketball and volleyball trophies, alongside their highly anticipated football campaign.

Yala’s experienced football coach, Kelvin Oluoch, believes this is finally their year. "For the last couple of years, we have been knocking, but we have been unlucky," Oluoch said in an interview. "Last year, we finished third, and we want to improve on that performance. If we do everything right, we can win the elusive football title."

Oluoch noted that his team has enjoyed a strong campaign so far, conceding only a single goal—against Nyagondo—en route to retaining their county title.

However, he warned that they cannot afford to rest on their laurels given their challenging draw. Yala is placed in what the coach describes as the "Group of Death," alongside regional defending champions Agai Mixed Secondary, Homa Bay champions Our Lady of Mercy Ringa Boys, and Kisii’s Sameta Senior School.

Agai, coached by Senior Principal Gordon Akoko, enters the tournament having recently surrendered their Kisumu County trophy after a 1-0 defeat to Maseno School. Meanwhile, Pool A features the returning Maseno School, former champions Koderobara, Nyamira's Biticha, and Homa Bay’s second representatives, Gendia Secondary.

Yala are expected to open their tournament against hosts Ringa Boys at the Raila Odinga Stadium.

Oluoch acknowledged that their pool is significantly tougher than Pool A.

"However, for you to be the best, you must beat everyone else," he said. "We must progress from that group, which also features last year’s champions. We don’t want to underrate anyone because they all deserve their slots at the regional level. However, I believe we have done everything, and we deserve the trophy."

Since winning the county finals, Yala's coaching staff has focused heavily on the players' mental and emotional preparedness. Oluoch believes his squad now possesses the maturity required to go all the way, noting that most of the players have been together for four years and have gained the necessary experience to become Nyanza champions.