Unicef Girls tourney enters quarters

By Erick Ochieng

Quarterfinals for the Unicef Girl’s football tournament reached an exiting climax in all the eight constituencies in Nairobi yesterday.

In Westlands, Kanjeru drowsed Rungiri Youth Sports Association (RYSA) 2-0 as Liverpool edged Westlands Youth Sports Association (WYSA) 2-1.

Wondrous FC’s Mary Akoth (light green jersey) and Jane Njeri of Liverpool FC during the Kick Aids Out of Nairobi Unicef Girls tournament at the Kitumbuini in Nairobi. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

Liverpool went to the offensive from the start and dominated WYSA for close to quarter of an hour.

Impressive Susan Wanjiku, who was outstanding on the left flank, added confidence in Liverpool with her classic notch in the 11th minute. Wanjiku picked a lose ball from her backyard and powered through before letting loose a shot that went straight into the net at the midfield to give Liverpool 1-0 half-time lead.

But Liverpool appeared to relax on resumption and WYSA were able to put them at bay with threatening runs and shots by Wylkista Halenya at the front right.

Spot Kick

This forced Liverpool coach, Ezra Okwang to replace defenders Minneh Wangari and Jane Kamau with Gladys Ngeno and Esther Wanjira.

The plan was dealt a blow when Helenya celebrated her equaliser two minutes later (48th minute) via spot kick. But Liverpool kept pressing on and a had breakthrough in the 58th minute when Aisha Njeri beat WYSA’s defence and displaced the custodian before scoring into the yawning net to take Liverpool to the semis.

Lucy Muthoni was the sole scorer in the match pitting Rungiri against Kanjeru.

The brace, netted in the second half, enabled Kanjeru to book a date with Liverpool in the semi-final.

Tournament director, Alice Gekonde, said the girls’ event sponsored by Unicef, is meant to raise HIV and Aids awareness among female youths in Nairobi and its environs.