St Joseph’s Girls, Nyakach hunt for football title at East Africa school games
St Joseph’s Kitale players celebrate after beating Nyakach Girls to win the national football title in Thika during Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association Term Two games on August 6.
The six-year drought has ignited a fierce Kenyan renaissance on the regional stage. Standing on the precipice of history are newly crowned national champions St Joseph’s Girls Kitale, and runners-up Nyakach Girls, who are spearheading Kenya’s mission to reclaim the elusive Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) girls’ football title, starting today.
The last time Kenya won this title was on August 19, 2018, when Kwale Girls beat Uganda’s Kawempe Muslim Secondary 1-0 in the final at Ubworoherane Stadium in Musanze, Rwanda.
And as the finest teams converge in Morogoro, Tanzania, St Joseph’s and Nyakach carry not just the hopes of their schools, but Kenya’s aspirations. The country is desperate to break the six-year title drought by winning again.
Since 2018, Uganda has won all the girls’ football titles, except in 2020 and 2021 when the championships were not held due to Covid-19 pandemic. The title drought is weighing heavily on Kenyan teams, whose mission is clear: to bring the trophy home.
This task could not have been entrusted to better teams. Last week, St Joseph’s and Nyakach met in the national finals in Thika, and played to a 1-1 draw in regular time before the Rift Valley Region team beat their Nyanza rivals 8-7 on penalties.
That final could be repeated in Morogoro, as both teams have been placed in different groups. They will therefore only meet in the knock-out stages if they both make it through the group phase.
“We know what is at stake. We came here as national champions, and our aim is to win the title. The girls are focused, and they are ready,” said St Joseph’s coach, Francis Ojillo.
The loss in Thika was painful for Nyakach but coach Chrispin Odindo says it made his team stronger.
“We are determined to do well,” he said. The girls were devastated in Thika, but they have recovered. We aim to make it to the final, and this time we’re aiming for a different result.”
St Joseph’s are in a tough Group B alongside Ugandan giants Amus College School and Boni Consili Girls Vocational and Secondary School. Tanzanian teams Alliance School and Kilombero High School are also in the group. The Kenyan champions will open their campaign today at 1pm against Tanzania’s Alliance at Highland Grounds.
“Every game in this group is a final. They’ve experience, but we have hunger. We’re not here just to make up the numbers,” said Ojillo.
Nyakach, who are in Group A, start campaign today at 2pm against Jinja Progressive Academy from Uganda at Ujenzi Stadium, before playing Ugandan champions Rines SS tomorrow at 3pm at Sokoine University of Agriculture. Rines are one of the tournament favourites.
Their compatriots St Noah, the defending champions, will not participate in this year’s tournament.
Other teams in the group are Fountain Gate and Ziba from Tanzania and PSB Huye from Rwanda.
In boys’ football, Kenya will be represented by the record national champions, Kakamega High, and debutants St Mary’s Yala.
St Marys Yala are in group B with CGF Kigali of Rwanda, heavy weights St Mary’s Kitende of Uganda and hosts Morogoro.
Pool A has Makamba of Burundi, Nsumba of Tanzania, Amus College of Uganda and Tanzania’s Mbeya Day.
Kakamega High are in Pool C alongside defending champions Bukedea Comprehensive School, and Kyadondo Secondary, both from Uganda, as well as Tanzania’s Urambo Day.
Kenya won eight titles at last year’s games in Kakamega, but not in football in either category.
Kenya’s traditional giants Kwanthanze (girls’ rugby 7s), St Peter’s Mumias (boys rugby 7s) and St Luke’s Kimilili Boys (boys handball) missed out on qualification.
St Joseph’s also carry Kenya’s hopes in hockey. They won their first regional title in Mbale, Uganda, in 2024 and defended it last year in Kakamega, beating their Kenyan compatriots Tigoi Girls 3–2.
The 23rd edition, planned for August 14 - 22 in Morogoro, is expected to be the biggest in FEASSA history, with competition in over 21 sporting disciplines anticipated.
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