Ruiru Girls, Kirangari Boys have last laugh in Central
By David Macharia, July 15, 2025Ruiru Secondary School stunned defending champions Kinale 3-2 in a dramatic girls’ soccer final, while Kirangari High School retained the boys’ crown, as Central Region secondary schools wrapped up the Term Two games at Nyahururu.
Ruiru girls, coached by Peter Gathura, took the lead in the 20th minute of the first half, but Kinale quickly cancelled the lead three minutes later for a 1-1 tie at the break.
The second half saw Ruiru net their second goal five minutes after resumption, but the lead was again short-lived as Kinale equalised immediately.
Luck was on Ruiru’s side as they scored the winning goal in the dying minutes of the final.
Kinale coach Ben Nyongesa was not happy with the officiating of the final after two of his side’s goals were ruled offside in the first half.
“The two goals were not offside because our players dribbled the ball past the defence,” Nyongesa said.
To reach the girls’ final, Ruiru had clobbered South Tetu of Nyeri 8-0 while Kinale beat M-Pesa Foundation Academy of Kiambu 3-0 in the semi-finals played at a waterlogged Nyahururu Stadium on Friday, July 11, 2025.
In the boys’ category semi-finals, Kirangari, coached by Edward Fawa, beat M-Pesa Foundation Academy 3-1, while Kagonye beat Kiaga from Kirinyaga County 4-1 in post-match penalties after the teams drew 0-0 in regular time at the Nyahururu Stadium.
The competition brought together secondary schools’ champions from the counties of Kirinyaga, Nyeri, Murang’a, Kiambu and host Nyandarua.
The winners in football, volleyball, netball, rugby 7s, 3X3 basketball and racquet games will represent the Central Region in the national secondary schools Term Two games to be held in Kisumu town, Kisumu County.