Trans Nzoia KSSSA has unveiled the 2025 county soccer championships slated for this week placing arch-rivals St Joseph’s and St Anthony’s in separate groups.
In a well-orchestrated programme that could define Trans Nzoia County as the home of youthful football which could attract both national and international scouts, the perennial foes were billed against what pundits say are lowly-ranked.
St Joseph’s carrying the flag’s name as Jobos and St Anthony’s as Solidarity Boys are both sponsored by the Catholic Church of the Kitale diocese.
Incidentally St Anthony’s were last week promoted to the national school status like St Joseph’s and the newly crowned students would like to prove all and sundry the elevation did not just come about the silver plate but through hard work they expect to exhibit during the soccer bonanza.
According to the pooling, St Joseph’s the Rift Valley Regional champions are grouped with new-comers Kipkekei from Cherangany Sub-county and Kwanza Boys’ from Kwanza Sub-county.
ALSO READ:
Kivaywa Boys welcomes new principal as Kagwana quits to join politics
St. Anthony’s lads under Senior principal Simon Masibo face Endebess Centre from Endebess Sub-county and Kabuyefwe from Kiminini Sub-county after a 14 year-hiatus
The county knockouts will be played at Kolongolo Secondary School in Kwanza Sub-county, after the team was granted a bye as this year’s hosts.
Each of the five sub-counties -Saboti, Cherangany, Kwanza, Endebess and Kiminini were given two slots except for Saboti which got three together with St Joseph’s who are the county defenders and Kwanza which also benefited with three spaces being the hosts of the annual event.
During the 2024 East and Central games in Uganda, St Joseph’s was among the three Kenyan teams that participated in the regional tournament that was won by the host country.
In the Trans Nzoia KSSSA teams, group A has Goseta, Kabuyefwe and Endebess Centre, group B- Njoro, Bwake and Saboti Holy Trinity, group C- St Anthony’s, Kolongolo and Bishop Crawley Lukesi while group D has Kipkekei, St Joseph’s and Kwanza Boys’.
The gemes will be held on June 19th – 20th with sources saying the finals could be staged outside the county due to security concerns.
ALSO READ:
Van overturns on Thika Road, injuring several school children
The championship resurrects the rivalry between St Joseph’s and St Anthony’s as Chief Principal Cosmas Nabungolo and senior principal Simon Masibo respectfully fight for soccer supremacy in the county.
This year things aren’t different as the two jostle to get the title with St Joseph’s facing the minnows of Kipkekei and Kwanza Boys’ while St Anthony’s tackle a more stubborn group of Kolongolo and Bishop Crawley Lukesi.
The rise to the stardom this time round seems to complicated with Goseta and Bwake on board.
For example, both Goseta’ senior principal Geoffrey Murunga and Bwake counterpart John Mukongolo boast of having an been mentored by Nabungolo while he was the head at St Anthony’s and each has vowed to turn tables on their former boss.
ALSO READ:
Prof Egara Kabaji appointed first Chancellor as Mount Kigali University gains full autonomy
It’s during the reign of Nabungolo at St Anthony’s that the school made advances to the national and international soccer limelight with most of the students venturing abroad to join soccer academies.
While Goseta under manager Peter Nandabi has credentials to win the tournament and advance to the regional games slated for early next month, principal Mukongolo say his naming of St Anthony’s as Solidarity Boys was his own making that could be Bwake make a break.
Going by the premilinary results where Goseta had an avalanche of goals, Coach Nandabi has want is required to set the ball rolling.
By Abisai Amugune
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
