- The victory marked Highway’s third consecutive Nairobi regional crown
- Highway will represent Nairobi Region in the KSSSA National Games, which will be held from July 28 to August 1 at M-Pesa Academy in Thika.
Highway Secondary School successfully retained their Nairobi regional football title after defeating rivals Upper Hill 4-3 in a dramatic penalty shoot-out following a goalless draw in the final of the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) Nairobi Regional Games at Jamhuri High School on Sunday, July 12.
The victory marked Highway’s third consecutive Nairobi regional crown and secured the reigning national champions a place at the KSSSA National Games, which will be held from July 28 to August 1 at M-Pesa Academy in Thika.
The victory keeps their hopes of retaining the national title they clinched in 2024 alive while moving them a step closer to securing a place at the East Africa Secondary Schools Games in Morogoro, Tanzania.
The final lived up to its reputation as one of Nairobi’s fiercest school football rivalries, with both sides delivering resolute defensive performances that forced the contest into extra time after a goalless stalemate in regulation.
Despite creating numerous scoring opportunities, Highway were unable to break down a resilient Upper Hill defence during regulation time.
The match was eventually settled in a penalty shoot-out, where goalkeeper Fred Gekapa proved to be the difference. Gekapa saved two spot-kicks as Highway secured a 4-3 victory, triggering jubilant celebrations among the players and their supporters.
However, the encounter ended on a controversial note following a disputed refereeing decision. In the dying moments of normal time, Highway were convinced they had scored the winner after Ian Inziza’s effort appeared to cross the goal line before being cleared by an Upper Hill defender. The referee, however, waved play on, ruling that the ball had not fully crossed the line.
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Highway’s frustrations deepened after Athman Yusuf was fouled just outside the penalty area in an incident the technical bench believed warranted a red card. However, the referee allowed play to continue without issuing any disciplinary action.
Despite the controversial calls, Highway assistant coach Duncan Mwaura declined to criticise the officiating, instead commending his players for remaining composed throughout the match.
“I don’t want to talk about the officiating today. The referee can watch the game and judge for himself. I cannot blame him because we are all human, and sometimes we make mistakes,” said Mwaura.
Highway head into the National Games as the defending champions after lifting last year’s title and earning the honour of representing Kenya at the East Africa Games.
Their impressive run of success over the past three seasons has established them as one of the country’s dominant school football teams.
By Frank Mugwe
Caption: Highway Secondary School football team in action during a Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) Term Two Games.
