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Former champions St Anthony Boy’s Kitale and Dagoretti High hope to write names in the history books of the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA)’s in boys’ U20 winner’s roll when they meet in Saturday’s final.

St Anthony who won last the championship in the 2012 edition, are desperate to end the long wait for the title, while Dagoretti High, in their debut season, have overachieved in the competition but coach John Makokha feels they still have enough gas and will to go all the way.

The Nairobi side is looking to defy all odds to lift the trophy in their first appearance at the national stage.

“Making it to the final, the aim is obviously one, to win the title and that’s what we are looking forward to do,” said coach Makokha.

Dagoretti, playing last year’s losing finalist Olbolsat from Central Region in the first semi-final were quick off the blocks with the first goal only three minutes into the match. Paul Odhiambo with the opener after beautiful interplay. 

Olbolsat made it to the finals for the second year running, reacted almost immediately to draw level in the seventh minute courtesy of Rashid Adam.

Derrick Omondi put Dagoretti back in front with a second goal in the 21st minute. The scores remained the same at break.

After the break, the opening 30 minutes of the second half were entertaining with Olbolsat taking the game to Dagoretti in search of an equaliser but the Nairobi side, tactically kept them at bay, using wings to close-up the match.

This game plan worked well for Dagoretti as Simon Omondi put the match beyond hard fighting Olbolsat’s reach in the 76th minute, a scoreline that Dagoretti guarded jealously and bravely to the win the encounter 3-1 and qualify for the finals for the first time.

In the second semi-final at the same venue, two hours later saw Ebwali stun many by their bravely as they matched the 2012 champions St Anthony in the entire ninety (90) minutes to force the match to post match penalties, but gallantly went down fighting 6-5.

In the girls’ category, high scoring Itigo Girls will lock horns with hosts Nyakach Girls in the finals. Itigo thrashed Njabini 4-0 in the first semifinal as Nyakach defeated last year’s finalist Archbishop Njenga from Central, 2-0. 

Archbishop Njenga and Njambini will fight for the third place playoff in the girls under-20 early kickoff. — GIBO ZACHARY in Kisumu