The Nyanza Region Secondary School Games came to a close in controversy on Tuesday when Kisumu Day Secondary School filed an appeal after falling short to Agoro Sare Secondary School in the boys’ football championship.
The game at Maranda High School finished in a draw, and the defending winners, Kisumu Day, fell 7-6 on penalties. Kisumu Day contends that Agoro Sare fielded an ineligible player in their final game in the appeal letter obtained by Nation Sport.
In the girls’ final, Lwak Girls High School defeated 2019 national winners Nyakach Girls High School on penalties and went on to win their first championship.
The player, according to Kisumu Day squad Manager Booker Odhiambo, was a member of the Dagoretti High School football squad that competed in last year’s events.
In the appeal dated July 25, 2023, Odhiambo stated that the player in question is now playing for Agoro Sare, but also in Form three.
“He is therefore a repeater which is against the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association Constitution part 11 (e). He is therefore an ineligible player in this year’s championship as a form three. It is due to this reason that Agoro Sare should loose the match,” said Mr Odhiambo.
By the time the teams were departing after the closing ceremony, the verdict of the appeal was yet to be determined.
The boys’ final was a repeat of last year’s decider which Agoro Sare lost 2-0.
The match went into the extra time with Kisumu Day missing crucial goal scoring opportunities that they would later regret.
The first five penalty takers from both teams scored forcing the kick out to go to sudden death.
The heroics of shot stopper Agoro Sare keeper Michael Omondi is what would be the difference between the two teams after saving a penalty, gifting Agoro Sare the gong.
