Kakamega High School chief scout, coach, and teacher Sammy Adongo has explained to Mozzart Sport how failure at last year's Kenya Secondary School Sports Association (KSSSA) games prepared them for success this year.Download our Mozzart Sport App for more newsLast year, the Green Commandos were eliminated in the semi-finals at the county level after a heated county final held on 21 June 2025, at the Mumias Sports Complex, where Kakamega lost 5-4 to Musingu Boys on post-match penalties following a barren draw.Kakamega later finished third after Munyuki Secondary School failed to turn up for the classification match, while Musingu clinched the county championship after a 2-0 win over Butere Boys.##NAJAVA_MECA_9915547##That loss meant the 15-time national champions were missing out on a place in the regional games for a sixth year in a row.Following the disappointment of elimination, watching neighbors Butere and Musingu progress, and seeing the latter reach the county final, the setback provided fresh motivation for the Green Commandos, who took it as a challenge and immediately began rebuilding.The former Goseta High School gaffer, who was in his first year at the school, was tasked with revamping the team alongside the other members of the technical bench.The teacher and certified scout, who has also worked with the now-defunct Rainbow, embarked on a strict scouting process aimed at helping Kakamega achieve its goals the following year.Stars Abroad: Sichenje, Ouma feature as Savio scores on Spurs debut against CharltonAccording to the learned coach, the first goal was to form a team capable of competing at a national level.“I think we started the journey last year, immediately after the county games. We had to come up with a plan, and the plan was to create a team that would play and qualify for nationals. We did not expect to qualify and win, but we needed to take a step from the previous results,” the gaffer told Mozzart Sport.The change, according to the coach, came after the school's football tradition appeared to be scaling down, creating a need for Kakamega to return to the national stage.“The last four to six years, Kakamega had not played in the regionals, so we wanted to play beyond counties and make an appearance at nationals. So by God's grace and hard work, we got to the finals and won. We started the journey last year, and the first thing we did was to recruit. We did some good recruitment,” he added.##NAJAVA_MECA_9915605##The work did not stop there, as the young coach was further tasked with stabilizing the team and scouting for players who were ready to fit into the project.According to the gaffer, his first assignment was to stabilize the defense before moving to other areas of the pitch.“As a scout and coach, I had a specific type of player that I needed on my team, and we started building the team from the back, so the first thing I did was to bring in Fidel, who is a left-footed center-back.When I brought Fidel, then I went to bring his partner, Ferdinand, and then brought a right-back. Of course, the left-back, we got him from our school; he was training with the junior sides, so we promoted him to the senior team. We then brought in midfielders and finalized with the forwards,” explained the KSSSA champion.Five Kenyan officials selected for CAF New FIFA Referees Course in CairoMozzart Sport understands that the teacher and coach embarked on a vigorous process that saw him engage parents and guardians as he looked to bring in players who could fit into the project.His search brought in 11 players: Eugene Bellety, Anthony Onyango, Ferdinand Isaac, Fidel Odhiambo, Mike Okoth Junte, Chris Georgian, James Mulwa, Edson Bwire, Derrick Wanyonyi, Brighton Nacheri, and Maxwell Odhiambo.The process did not stop there, as the school administration also came in to ensure the players received scholarships and gave the technical bench a free hand to bring in more student players.“Without the school, we could not have done it. The management of the school, the number one supporter, has been the principal. Every time we tell him we have a player we need, he permits us and gives admission slots. Even next year, we already have slots and have players in the camp already.”Stars Abroad: Ochieng starts against Real Madrid as Onyango, Otieno feature in midweek actionThe work paid off on 6 August when Kakamega School, the Green Commandos, once again showed why they are the benchmark of Kenyan school football, coming from behind to defeat St Mary's School Yala 3-2 in extra time and reclaim the KSSSA national boys' football title.