Talanta Hela Tournament: Homa Bay County Girls storm into the quarters

Homa Bay County Girls’ football team stormed into the quarterfinals of the Talanta Hela U19 national tournament in style after thumping a hapless Wajir 24-0 at the Kasarani Annex yesterday.

The last game of Group B was a one-sided show, with the Homa Bay queens showcasing their one-touch play in the major part of the second half.

Seventeen-year-old Mercy Amwamo proved ruthless, scoring 10 goals in the match. The Form Two student at Kobala Secondary School is now poised for the top scorer’s award, having already netted 13 goals in three matches.

Homa Bay girls’ team has scored a total of 40 goals in their three group games, the highest in the inaugural Talanta Hela Tournament by a single team.

“We played well, I cannot say that our opponents were weaker, they just played according to the levels. We won by that margin because my players who have not featured regularly wanted to prove a point and ensure a quarterfinal slot without issues of checking the goal difference,” said Homa Bay coach Maurice Omoya.

Busia County girls’ team maintained their unbeaten run, securing a spot in the last eight with a stylish 1-0 victory over a determined Kwale County.

Kakamega thrashed Nandi 5-0, while Nairobi Girls were 5-0 victors over Samburu.

In the boys’ category, Homa Bay thumped Garissa 7-0 to reach the knockout stage, despite suffering a shock 5-2 defeat against Vihiga in the opening game at Nyayo Stadium on Sunday.

Assistant skipper and wonder boy Cecil Miller scored a brace, while Ben Ogutu, Geoffrey Omondi, Moses Omondi, Markvivan Kesa, and Onyango Kenyatta scored a goal each for Gladys Wanga’s boys.

West Pokot also secured a place in the quarters after trouncing a wasteful Kirinyaga 4-1 at Nyayo Stadium yesterday.

“The game was really tough, and we had to fight hard for this win. Now, we are happy that we are in the last 8 in the competition, but we will be very clinical going forward. We are here to shock people and win this tournament,” said West Pokot coach Wasike Yonah.

The highly anticipated state-sponsored tournament takes a break today and resumes tomorrow with spectacular quarterfinal games for both boys and girls at Kasarani and Nyayo Stadium, respectively.

The finals are scheduled to be played on December 12 at Nyayo Stadium as part of the Jamuhuri Day celebrations in front of President William Ruto.