KSSSA 2024 : Musingu Marches into Semis as Hosts Koderobara Bows Out

Kenya Secondary Schools (KSSSA) national games are heating up as the hunt for national glory continues. Football preliminary matches for both boys and girls have all been played and the fate of each team has been decided. Four teams remain to battle for it in the semi-final matches set to be played on 7th August 2024 at Gusii Stadium and Cardinal Otunga Mosocho.  All the semi-finalists are determined to be crowned the national champions as they also aim to qualify for the East Africa games set to be held in Mbale, Uganda.

Musingu, the tournament favourites, are out to prove the people right. Having a 100% win rate, they emerged as pool A winners with 9 points. In the opening match, they defeated the resilient Machakos High 1-0. Against Kirangari, in the second match, they struggled for large periods of the game, before staging a comeback in stoppage time and emerging 2-1 winners. Musingu’s last group stage match was marred with controversy. The match was interrupted in the 73rd minute due to fan unrest with Musingu leading 1-0, it was later resumed after calm had been restored and the Scorpions won 1-0.  

The hosts, Koderobara were humiliated in front of their home fans. They bowed out of the competition winless only managing to register two draws, 2-2 against Kirangari and a barren draw against Machakos High. In group A the three teams were tied on points with each team having 2 points with a similar goal difference. Kirangari having scored more goals (3), than their opponents (Koderobara and Machakos High) proceeded to the semifinal

 In pool B Highway High topped the group with 7 points as St Joseph’s, the famous ‘JOBO’, came second with 6 points. JOBO is the highest-scoring team in the tournament having found the back of the net 12 times. Dr Aggrey, the coast region representative came third with 4 points as North Eastern’s Takaba trailed in the group having suffered defeat in all of their matches.

The semi-final clashes are mouth-watering. Musingu will come head to head with St Joseph’s as  Highway will face Kirangari. Who will make it to the finals? All eyes will be on Musingu vs St Joseph’s , this is a typical Kakamega County vs Trans Nzoia County rivalry, a rivalry that has been witnessed for decades. Coach Brendan Mwinamo's Musingu, has been in the cold for so long, the last time they won this coveted competition was in 1984. Will they overcome this jinx to make it 2 national trophies? Cosmas Nabongolo has rejuvenated St Joseph's since he arrived in 2022, this is the first time “JOBO” are making a national appearance. This match is going to be a cracker, a final match played before finals.

Highway vs Kirangari is not an easy match as many people perceive. Kirangari’s performances are astonishing, no one expected them to get past the group stages. Kirangari is a well-coached side that can surprise  Highway. They have been putting in spirited fights to ensure they get something out of the matches they play. This match can go either way despite so many people banking on Beldine Odemba’s coached side, Highway.

On the girls' side, Butere girls are out to defend their title although they will have to battle it out with Nyakach Girls and St Joseph Girls. Butere Girls finished as the runners-up in pool  A behind Nyakach Girls with 6 points. They won two matches, 1-0 against Kibauni and humiliated Kinale 7-1. They lost to Nyakach Girls with a solitary goal. Dagoreti mixed and Alara girls were eliminated as they failed to advance past the group stages. The girls' semifinals are also set to be played on 7th August 2024 at Gusii Stadium and Cardinal Otunga Mosocho. The defending champions Butere Girls will square it out with Kombani Girls as Nyakach Girls face St Joseph's Girls in the other semifinal.

The semifinals are set to be played concurrently. The girls' matches will kick off at 9:00 am while the boys' matches will be played from 11:00 am. The finalists and second runners-up are set to represent Kenya in The East Africa games, in Uganda. Who will make it to the finals?