In a scathing attack, St Anthony’s Boys High School head coach Peter Mayoyo has branded Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) ball games as a hotbed of corruption, accusing officials of bias and age cheating, even as he insists the school’s focus has shifted from local trophies to grooming players for foreign leagues.  

Coach Peter Mayoyo similarly dismissed claims that the school, once a feeder for premier league teams like the disbanded Chemelil Sugar, Gor Mahia, AFC Leopards, Tusker and Bandari, has lost its KSSSA mojo. 

During an exclusive interview with Wikendi Sport, Mayoyo responded to critics’ claims about the school’s declining performance in national KSSSA ball games and its feeder status. 

Speaking to People Daily, Siaya County Secondary Schools Sports Association (SCSSSA) Secretary David Obiero claimed St Anthony’s former glorious days as national KSSSA giants have faded. 

“A school’s good performance in KSSSA ball games depends on the Principal’s leadership. At St  Anthony’s, leadership has broken down, so everything is struggling,” Obiero alleged. 

Obiero observed that a school’s performance in academics and sports depends on its foundation and helps attract students. 

He stated, “Now I see the education curriculum embracing sports. A lot of attention is given to sports. We expect a lot of competition in sports with other schools outdoing St Anthony’s.” 

Mature players 

Agoro Sare High School boys’ football coach Jerry Opondo claimed, “St Anthony’s is nowadays more into competition than player development, resorting to using overage, mature students, leading to ineligibility cases.” 

“St Anthony’s is declining in performance since schools are investing in football. It’s no longer a monopoly of individual schools. Ironically, that’s why there is competition and age cheating,” Obiero added. 

Mayoyo dismissed claims that St Anthony’s no longer nurtures student players for Kenya’s top premier league teams. 

“We still nurture players and sign them with Kenyan premier league teams like Ulinzi Stars, Bandari, Tusker and Kariobangi Sharks,” Mayoyo said. 

Mayoyo continued, “We have partnered with Ulinzi and Kariobangi Sharks and signed our players. They look after players’ welfare, unlike other FKF-Premier League sides.” 

Reacting to claims St Anthony’s has dipped in KSSSA performance, Mayoyo retorted in Kiswahili, “Michezo ya KSSSA siku hizi iko na wakora wengi,” meaning nowadays KSSSA is full of corruption, bribed officials favour individual schools and age cheating and biased officiating are rampant. 

“Nowadays, we don’t give a hoot about losing or winning KSSSA ball games. We have shifted focus from the Kenyan Premier League. Most teams don’t care about players’ welfare, and the pay is low. We now develop players for foreign leagues: Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States, Spain’s La Liga and leagues in Scandinavian countries such as Sweden,” Mayoyo explained. 

Mayoyo further stated that teams in foreign leagues care about players’ football development, welfare and pay them handsomely. 

International talents 

“St Anthony’s partners with these foreign leagues and signs players with teams in the USA and Europe. It is now our core business. Our attacking midfielder Aldrine Kibet, who initially went to hone his football skills at Nastic Sports Academy in Spain and later signed for top Spanish La Liga side Celta Vigo, is our school’s leading footballing talent and skills brand ambassador,” Mayoyo declared. 

Kibet, who represented Kenya at the AFCON Under-20, is a key player of the country’s Rising Stars team. 

Mayoyo disclosed that over the last few years, St Anthony’s has signed several former student players abroad. 

“This year, our attacking midfielder, Erick Lamayan, will leave for Spain. Three other student players [Gregory Agesa, Zinedine Wesonga and Lazarus Odhiambo] will leave for the USA. Recently, Javan Omondi, who has been with Ulinzi, left for North Carolina in the USA. Another, Brian in Ulinzi, has received a visa and is set to fly to the US before year-end,” he said. 

In a parting shot, Mayoyo stated, “At St Anthony’s, we are beyond winning KSSSA national trophies. We have a trove of nine national trophies, including two that no Kenyan secondary school holds, like the Copa Coca-Cola Africa, which we won in 2018 after beating Nigeria 5-3 on penalties, and the Copa Coca-Cola World Edition played in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa in 2017. Last year, 2024, as head coach of Kenya’s combined team in Dalian City, China, at the International Schools Federation ball games, Kenya finished in 5th position.”