Kinyago United of Eastleigh win inaugural Kaloleni Mashujaa U-14 tourney title

Former Professional Boxing Commissioner Chairman Reuben Ndolo and Connie Smith, right, the event organizer present a trophy to Vincent Onditi captain Kinyago FC to celebrate the National Shujaa Day tournament at S-Base grounds in Nairobi on Monday, October 20. 2014. Photo/Jonah Onyango.

Kinyago United of Eastleigh are the winners of the inaugural Kumbukumbu ya Mashujaa wa Kaloleni under-14 boys football tournament held at the S-Base grounds in Kaloleni.

Kinyago trounced Makongeni-based Golden Stars 3-0 in post-match penalties to lift the trophy after the match ended in a barren draw in regular time.

The three-day event brought together 22 boys football clubs in Nairobi’s Eastlands area. It was sponsored by former Makadara MP Reuben Ndolo, Dutch Alliance for Sustainable Development in Africa (DASUDA) and a Kaloleni businessman, Mr Samuel Omondi.

Ndolo told FeverPitch that it will be an annual event that is geared towards producing sports heroes in the country. It will also help the youth within Nairobi to stay away from harmful vices like drugs.

“We want to produce sports heroes through this tournament that will be held annually to mark Mashujaa Day. This was our first and we entered teams from Eastlands, next year we will have teams from around Nairobi.”

He added that there was talent in Nairobi and in five years’ time, the Kaloleni tournament will have nurtured players who will represent the country on international duty. He pointed out Dennis Oliech and MacDonald Mariga saying that they were products of such tournaments, which he organised in Eastlands during his tenure as Makadara MP.

Kinyago will have their goalkeeper Owen Wycliffe, 12, to thank as he saved two penalties to see his team walk away with the coveted trophy. Paul Kagwima of Golden Stars was the first and Eugine Kimungui of Kinyago was too smart sending the ball past Kagwima on the left. Wycliffe saved George Sagini’s shot.

SECOND TEST

Vincent Onditi was the second to test Kagwima and he made it two for the winners, shooting straight to the roof. Wycliffe saved Sammy Mweni’s shot, giving his team the upper hand before Kevin Otieno scored the winning goal for the champions. Unlike the usual prize money awarded the clubs, the players were rewarded with food items like sugar, maize flour and bread to take home.

Hosts Kaloleni Youth, who were bundled out at the quarter-finals, did not leave empty-handed as their player, Titus Juma, won the Most Valuable Player Award. Ndolo urged other organisers of such events to stop giving players money that they could use to buy drugs and alcohol.

The event was organised by Connie Smith, a University of London Anthropology student who has been in the country for a year doing research in Eastlands’ Kaloleni Estate. Smith said the event was a huge success and promised to be in the country for next year’s edition.

“It was a huge success, the people of Kaloleni made it happen, I am done with my research but I will come for the second edition,” she said. 


 

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