St Anthony’s are the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) national football title winners after beating rivals Dagoreti High 2-0 at Bukhungu Stadium on Saturday, August 12, 2023.

Sensational Aldrine Kibet scored twice to inspire the Kitale-based heavyweights to national glory once again as the Solidarity Boys lifted their sixth national title.

Kibet, who was the darling of the football fanatics who packed Bukhungu Stadium to the rafters, scored in the first half of the highly charged match.

Kibet’s gets brace

He scored the second in the 89th minute to all but secure the title and perhaps the KSSSA’s bragging rights for St Anthony’s against the 2019 finalists.

Dagoreti, the perennial Nairobi regional representative in the KSSSA finals, could not repeat what they achieved in the group stage. Then, they defeated St Anthony’s 1-0, and their supporters hoped they would upset the Kitale-based school at the ultimate stage.

Apart from the fans that thronged to watch the highly-anticipated game, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba, and his Education counterpart, CS Ezekiel Machogu, were present.

Kakamega County and Trans-Nzoia County governors Fernandes Baraza and George Natembeya, respectively, were also in attendance. Natembeya has been at the forefront of supporting schools in his county, and his support was rewarded with the national title by St Anthony’s.

St Anthony’s progressed to the final after beating Agoro Sare 3-0, while Dagoreti were semi-final winners against Shanderema, who eventually booked a place in the Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports after emerging winners in the playoffs.

Butere Girls reign supreme

Meanwhile, Butere Girls emerged as the national champions after beating Wiyeta Girls at Bukhungu Stadium.

Wiyeta Girls, the outgoing champions, went down in the 25th minute when Judith Okumu scored the only goal of the game.

The win and the title, which they last won in 2014, ensured the Butere Girls booked their place in the East Africa Secondary School Games.

Butere were superb and grabbed a ticket to the final after beating Madira Girls, their regional rivals. Wiyeta, on the other hand, fought hard and secured a 3-1 post-match semi-final win over Dagoreti Mixed.

Wiyeta, the KSSSA heavyweights, booked a place in the East Africa Games despite losing the final to Butere.