SCHOOLS: Butere, Archbishop Njenga renew rivalry in regionals final

Butere Girls player Dorcas Glender (left) shields the ball from Karen Muhambe of  Madira Girls during their KSSSA national games in Kakamega. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard] 

Munyuki Secondary School from Kakamega County edged out Bukembe 4-3 in post-match penalties to reach the finals of the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) Western Region Term Two games.

Munyuki defied all odds as they locked horns against the homeboys playing to a barren draw in regular time in a fully packed Sudi Stadium, Bungoma. They will have their goalkeeper Nelson Vurache to thank even as they wait to know who their opponent in the final will be.

This is after the second semis tie between Musingu High School and St Mary’s Kibabii ended prematurely. Trouble erupted following the referee’s decision to give a red card to a Musingu player about 15 minutes into play. The game will be replayed today morning.

National champions Butere Girls will today square it out with bitter rivals Archbishop Njenga (ABN) in the girls' final. The tie will be a repeat of the Kakamega County final that saw Butere rout ABN 2-0 to be crowned champions.

Butere popularly known as the Red Commandos will have everything to play for as they seek to secure their ticket to Kisumu where they will be looking to successfully defend their national title. The Red Commandos outclassed Brenda Friends Girls High School 2-0 to book today’s final date with ABN who edged out Ibubi Girls High School 3-0.

Clotildah Auma and and Lorna Faith were on target for the Red Commandos in the sixth and 62nd minutes respectively, while Elizabeth Mideva scored a hattrick for ABN. 

A delighted Butere captain Halima Omar, who is also a Kenya U17 midfielder, said that they had expected a very tough semis encounter against Brenda after their previous encounter had ended in a barren draw.

“We knew that the semis won be easy but I’m glad that we won and are on course to achieving our objectives,” Omar said.

Going into today’s final, Halima said that that they will have to be at their best because their previous exploits against ABN will count for nothing.

“We will not focus on the county final or even past matches but we will meet them as a totally new side. The competition as well as circumstances will be different and so will be our approach to the game,” Omar added.

In volleyball, East Africa champions Friends Boys High School Namwela rallied from a set to beat former national and East Africa title holders Malava Boys 3-2 to reach the final.

Malava, who were looking to return to the national stage after many years in the cold, snatched the first set 26-24 to take the lead.

With their regional as well as East Africa titles at stake, Namwela would dominate the second and third sets 25-16 and 25-20 to take at a 2-1 lead. Malava recovered to grab the fourth set 25-23 and set the stage for the decisive fifth set which Namwela won 15-9 to carry the day.

Namwela will today face off with Butula Boys who beat their Busia County compatriots Katakwa Secondary School 3-0 (25-23, 25-14, 25-15) in the second semi-final encounter. In the girls' contest, former national champions, Lugulu Girls will take on Butere while regional defending champions St Martha Mwitoti will play Miruri in the other semis.

In netball, Bumala AC Mixed Secondary School will face off with St Martha Mwitoti in the final. Bumala dismissed Odiado 73-13 while Mwitoti ousted former regional champions Mukuyu 36-29 in the other the semis.