SCHOOLS: Kisumu Day chew bitterness as Agoro Sare through to national games

Agoro Sare celebrate with Nyanza football title.[Washington Onyango,Standard]

It's official, Agoro Sare will represent Nyanza in the upcoming Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National school games set for next month in Kakamega.

This is after the Nyanza Region Secondary School Sports Association through the regional Ministry of Education office threw out the appeal of Kisumu Day on Thursday afternoon.

Agoro Sare from Homa Bay County dethroned Kisumu Day on Tuesday to be crowned the new football boys champions.

In a match that was a repeat of last year's finals that saw Kisumu Day win 2-0, Agoro Sare got their sweet revenge by edging the Kisumu County champions 7-6 in post-match penalties.

Agoro goalkeeper Michael Omondi, who was substituted at the last minute for the penalties, turned out to be the difference between the two teams, sending the Homa Bay County champions to the nationals.

Kisumu Day players chew sugar cane after their semifinals victory against Usenge.[Washington Onyango,Standard]

Despite losing, Kisumu Day appealed citing Agoro had fielded an ineligible player.

The appeal alleged that the said player (name withheld) was part of the Dagoretti High School football team that participated in the Kenya Secondary School Sports Association Championship last year as a Form 3 student.

This year, the same student represented Agoro while still in Form Three, meaning he was a repeater, an incident that goes against the KSSSA Constitution part 11 (e) that states that any repeater at any school shall not be eligible to play in the year of repeating.

On Thursday, Kisumu Day's appeal was thrown out in the basis of technicality according to Booker Odhiambo, the football coach.

"Good afternoon. Kisumu Day has lost appeal against Agoro Sare on technicality. The Ministry of Education is saying that Usenge High School never released the student from their Nemis and therefore Dagoretti High School was using the student illegally. I have accepted the verdict, down but not yet out. There is a plan B. Have a good day," said Odhiambo.

Agoro will represent the region alongside Lwak Girls from Siaya County.