Kakamega School underlined their status as Kenya’s undisputed kings of school football after fighting back to beat St. Mary’s School Yala 3-2 in extra time and lift a record-extending 13th Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) boys’ football title on Thursday at M-Pesa Foundation Academy in Thika.
For more than 100 minutes, two of the country’s finest school teams traded blows in a contest that swung from one end to the other, keeping the packed stands on the edge of their seats.Just when Yala looked destined to script the greatest chapter in their football history, Green Commandos found one more gear, reminding everyone why they remain the benchmark of school football in Kenya.Goals from Derrick Wanyonyi, Julius Ochieng and Eugene Bellety handed Enock Luche and Clifftone Lugalia’s side the trophy after they overturned a 2-1 deficit, cancelling out a brilliant brace from Brian Javan Omondi.
The victory saw Kakamega reclaim the national crown for the first time since their 2018 triumph in Eldoret, stretching their remarkable record to 13 national football titles.Their overall tally now stands at 15 championships, although two were won under the Under 16 category.While Green Commandos celebrated another historic afternoon, St. Mary’s Yala walked away with their heads held high.The Nyanza champions matched the country’s most successful school stride for stride and came within touching distance of winning their first-ever national title before eventually falling in heartbreaking fashion.
Their journey itself was one to admire. From the zonal championships to the national final.Yala lost only twice, first to Highway Secondary School during the early stages before suffering the painful defeat that denied them the biggest prize in school football.Their spirited campaign, however, still earned them a ticket to the FEASSSA Games.The final exploded into life almost immediately.
Barely a minute had elapsed when Julius Ochieng, fondly known as Agwambo, latched onto a loose ball and fired Green Commandos into an early lead, sending the Kakamega supporters into wild celebrations.Rather than knocking the wind out of Yala, the goal breathed even more life into the contest as the Black Saints responded with fearless attacking football.Only two minutes later, Yala felt they should have been awarded a penalty after Brian Javan Omondi went down inside the box under pressure, but the referee waved away the appeals.Kakamega quickly raced to the opposite end where Brighton Nacheri danced past his marker before overhitting his final delivery, allowing Yala to escape.
As the game settled into rhythm, Kakamega continued enjoying slightly more possession, but Yala never looked rattled.Arnold Odira and Vincent Onyango repeatedly searched for openings from the flanks, only to find George Odhiambo and Ferdinand Isaac standing like an immovable wall at the heart of the Green Commandos defence.The atmosphere inside M-Pesa Foundation Academy matched the occasion.Long before kick-off, supporters had flooded the venue, overwhelming the available seating space as every corner of the ground filled with eager fans.
The terraces overflowed, spectators lined the touchlines and security officers struggled to contain the sea of humanity that had gathered to witness the country’s biggest school football fixture.The Black Saints eventually found the breakthrough their growing confidence deserved.After knocking persistently on Kakamega’s door, Collins Otieno beat his marker before delivering a teasing ball that Brian Javan Omondi turned home to restore parity.It was a move crafted with precision and finished with composure, drawing loud applause from the crowd and serving as a reminder of the quality on display.
The equaliser shifted momentum completely.Yala began dictating proceedings, moving the ball with confidence as Odira and Edwin Odhiambo repeatedly looked for Vincent Onyango inside the penalty area.Although Kakamega defended resolutely, the Black Saints were now asking all the questions, with Lukesvien Aseka emerging as their biggest attacking threat.Every time he received possession, Commandos defenders doubled up on him, determined not to allow the winger space to operate.##NAJAVA_MECA_9878689##Austin Juma and Frederick Okoth quietly took control of the midfield battle, winning second balls and breaking up Kakamega’s attacks before launching fresh waves of pressure.Their tireless work allowed Yala to finish the opening half on the front foot as the teams headed into the break locked at 1-1.The second half belonged to the Black Saints.They resumed with renewed purpose, pinning Kakamega deep inside their own half as wave after wave of attacks crashed towards the Green Commandos’ goal.
Frederick Okoth almost caught Ramadhan Juma off his line with an audacious effort from distance before the resulting corner sparked another frantic goalmouth scramble.Realising his side needed fresh energy, Enock Luche introduced Daniel Ombati, whose direct running immediately injected life into Kakamega’s attack.Even then, opportunities remained scarce as Yala captain Stephen Ouma produced an outstanding defensive display, shadowing Derrick Wanyonyi almost everywhere he went and denying the striker the freedom he usually enjoys.Michael Okoth and Ombati tried stretching the play for Kakamega, but Yala refused to retreat.
Their persistence finally paid off in the 65th minute when Brian Javan Omondi completed his brace, calmly finishing to hand the Black Saints a 2-1 lead and move them within touching distance of a first-ever national title.With the trophy beginning to slip from their grasp, Green Commandos threw everything forward.George Odhiambo abandoned caution to launch his trademark defence-splitting passes from deep, while Ombati and Michael Okoth relentlessly attacked the wings in search of an equaliser.Yala remained compact and disciplined, soaking up pressure before threatening on the counter-attack, setting up a thrilling finale as every tackle, clearance and interception was greeted with deafening noise from the stands.KSSSA: Kesogon outclass Kwanthanze to reach volleyball final against SowetoThe closing minutes became a siege.Kakamega camped inside the Yala half, forcing corner after corner as the Black Saints defended with every ounce of energy they had left.Just when it seemed the final whistle would crown new champions, Green Commandos found their moment.With only two minutes remaining, a teasing cross was delivered into the penalty area where Derrick Wanyonyi rose above everyone else to power home a header and level the scores at 2-2.
The goal sent the Kakamega bench into delirium while Yala players sank to the turf, knowing extra time now stood between them and history. The momentum had completely shifted. Green Commandos looked the fresher side as extra time began, continuing to attack with renewed belief while Yala increasingly relied on resilience and determination.Deep in the first period, Daniel Ombati skipped past his marker before unleashing a fierce effort that goalkeeper Johnstone Raudge could only spill.
Read Also: KSSSA: St. Joseph’s Girls upset favourites Nyakach to lift maiden national football title
Michael Onyango reacted first to the rebound but lifted his effort over the crossbar with the goal at his mercy. Kakamega’s relentless pressure eventually broke Yala’s resistance in the 104th minute. Ombati once again burst down the right before whipping a dangerous cross into the six-yard box. Raudge failed to gather cleanly, spilling the ball into a crowded area where Eugene Bellety reacted quickest to rifle home into the bottom corner.
It was the decisive blow, the goal that silenced the Yala faithful and sent Green Commandos supporters into another frenzy. The second period of extra time became a test of character. Knowing they were only minutes away from another national crown, Kakamega refused to retreat. Instead, they continued asking questions, with Wanyonyi proving a constant menace as his movement stretched the tiring Yala backline.
Every attack carried the feeling that another goal could come, but Raudge redeemed himself with a series of important saves to keep the scoreline respectable. Yala searched desperately for one final response and threw numbers forward whenever possession came their way, but fatigue had begun to creep into their game after more than 100 minutes of relentless football. Kakamega absorbed the late pressure with the composure of seasoned champions before the final whistle confirmed another glorious chapter in the history of Green Commandos, a team that once again proved why every generation of Kenyan school footballers measures itself against the boys in green.