Nyanza football champions Agoro Sare dare rivals at nationals

 Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) football competition draws have been released following the conclusion of the Nyanza Games on Tuesday.

Nyanza region champions Agoro Sare are in Pool ‘A’ against Western region champions Shanderema, Bute from the Northern region, and Central’s Kirangari.

Reacting to the pooling,  Agoro Sare coach Fredrick Akuku termed it fair. “It’s a fairly good draw but those teams are champions from their respective regions. They are not pushovers but we are ready to face them,” said Akuku.

Akuku attributed the team’s win at the Nyanza regional level to consistency. “This is a team we have been building for the last four years. We have been to the regionals for three consecutive years and lost at the finals last year,” he said.

He added: “Our target was to reach nationals this year. I don’t want to put the boys under pressure at the nationals. I want them to go there and showcase their talents. We also promise a good fight against our opponents.”

Akuku warned that Agoro Sare will dominate the Nyanza region secondary schools football scene for several years.

He did not comment on the appeal against their win which has been filed by Kisumu Day. During the final, Agoro Sare edged five-time champions Kisumu Day 7-6 on post-match penalties.

Pool ‘B’ will feature former champions St Anthony’s Kitale, Dagoretti High (Nairobi), Matikilu (Eastern) and Serani Boys (Coast).

In the girl’s category, the Western region’s Butere Girls is in Pool ‘A’ together with Njabini, Dagoretti Mixed, and Kombani from the Coast region.

Pool ‘B’ has Nyanza’s champions St Mary’s Lwak Girls who will make their debut, Madira, Mbitini, and former East Africa champions Wiyeta and champions from Rift Valley.

Lwak Girls coach Daniel Ochieng said his charges are ready for the nationals to be held in Kakamega in August.

“We are going to Kakamega to compete. Despite being debutants, we are not going to be pushovers. Our target is to reach the East Africa Games,” said Ochieng.

During the four-day Nyanza region championships, only Nyakach Girls retained the volleyball title and St Mary’s Yala took rugby 7’s gong. New champions emerged in the rest of the games.

The new winners are Agoro Sare (football boys), St Mary’s Lwak (football girls), Oyugi Ogango (netball), Onjiko School (volleyball boys), Onjiko School (boys’ 3x3 basketball), Ototo School (girls’ 3x3 basketball).

Siaya County emerged overall winners with 66 points and was closely followed in second place by Kisumu and Homa Bay with 64 each.

Kisii was third with 45 points while Migori took fifth place with 41 points. Nyamira placed last with a paltry 28 points. Winners will represent the region at the national championships scheduled for Kakamega High School from August 8 to 14.