SCHOOLS: Ambira Mobimba through to Nyanza Region football semis

Ambira boys football player vies for the ball against Tonga secondary player during Nyanza Regional Secondary school games at Kisii School.[Sammy Omingo, Standard]

Ambira High School announced their return to the regional showpiece by edging out Homa Bay’s Tonga High School 1-0 in their opening Group B match of the Nyanza Region Secondary School football match played at Kisii School on Thursday.

Alex ‘Alonso’ Mchumbe was again the hero for Ambira after netting the winner, a feat he already achieved last month.

Alonso was on target when Ambira narrowly edged out St Mary’s Yala 1-0 in the Siaya County finals against and send his school back to the regionals for the first time in 14 years.

In the second match, Alonso was again on fire as he scored in Ambira’s 3-0 win over Matutu from Nyamira County.

The match which was played at Cardinal Otunga Mosocho saw Collins ‘Drogba’ Ochieng and Maxwel Otieno also join in on the score sheet.

Ambira boys football player vies for the ball against Tonga secondary player during Nyanza Regional Secondary school games at Kisii School.[Sammy Omingo, Standard]

The two wins lifted Ambira to the top of Group B with six points and four goals and thus through to the semifinals of the regional games with a game to spare.

Tonga and Matutu follow suit with three points each. Matutu saw off Sameta 2-1 while Tonga edged out Sameta 1-0.

Speaking after the win, Ambira head coach Jerry Opondo said they still have work to be done and there is no time to celebrate but focus.

“The boys are focused because we know we are not there yet. Our target was to expose the talent we have at Ambira and I am very happy the boys are showing that on the field,” said Opondo.

Ambira will face Sameta in their final pool match on Friday before meeting the second placed team from Group A.