- Archbishop Njenga Girls ended Butere Girls’ dominance with a 2‑1 victory to qualify for nationals.
- Head coach Fred Serenge says his squad is focused on reclaiming the KSSSA national crown.
- The team, last champions in 2011, has pitched camp in Mang’u ahead of Pool B fixtures.
Archbishop Njenga Girls head coach Fred Serenge has expressed confidence that his team has what it takes to reclaim the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) national girls’ football title when the Term Two Games kick off in Thika.
The Western Region champions secured their place at the national championships after ending Butere Girls’ dominance with a 2-1 victory in the regional final, earning their first appearance at the national stage since 2019.
Speaking ahead of the tournament scheduled for August 4 July at M-Pesa Academy, Serenge said his players are fully focused on restoring the title to Western Kenya.
“We are not sparing any team; we’re here on a mission. Our main objective is bouncing back and going for the national title,” Serenge said.
The regional triumph also served as sweet revenge for Archbishop Njenga Girls, who had repeatedly fallen to Butere Girls since school games resumed after the Covid-19 pandemic in 2022. During that period, Butere went on to win three consecutive national titles.
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Serenge attributed his side’s resurgence to patience, discipline and consistency, saying the team’s success was the result of years of hard work.
“It has been a work in progress; it took sheer hard work, resilience, consistency, tolerance and believing in the process, and finally it paid off,” he said.
Archbishop Njenga Girls last lifted the national title in 2011 after edging St. Teresa’s Tartar of Rift Valley 1-0. Fifteen years later, Serenge believes his current squad has the quality to script another memorable chapter in the school’s history.
“We are equal to the task, and I strongly feel we have a team that will deliver the trophy back to the Western region.”
The team has intensified preparations by pitching camp in Mang’u ahead of the national competition, with the coach expressing satisfaction with the players’ commitment despite a few injury concerns.
“We arrived in camp last Saturday, which shows our level of commitment and preparation. We have enhanced our training, and we are approaching the championship with a lot of seriousness.”
Serenge said the injured players are responding well to treatment and is optimistic they will recover in time for the tournament.
At the national championships, Archbishop Njenga Girls have been drawn in Pool B alongside Raila Education Centre from Nairobi, Misuuni Secondary from the Eastern Region and Central Region’s Thika Girls Karibaribi as they begin their quest for a second national football crown.
By Jonathan Mwinzi
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