Takaba Mixed Senior School pose for a photo after their historic qualification to the semi finals/ANGWENYI GICHANAHistory-making Takaba Mixed Secondary School will be out to extend their fairytale run at the ongoing KCB Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National Term Two Games when they face St Mary’s Yala in today’s boys’ football semi-final at MPesa Foundation Academy in Thika.
Coached by Noah Thuraina Ngeere, Takaba became the first school from the North Eastern region to reach the national secondary schools football semi-finals after an impressive group-stage campaign.
They sealed their place in the last four on Tuesday with a commanding 4-2 victory over Tumaini in their final Group match at Mang’u High School. Earlier, they had already made history by becoming the first North Eastern school to win a match at the national finals, thrashing St Phillip’s Baricho 6-1.
Takaba Senior Principal Abdikhalif Hassan Ibrahim believes his side can continue rewriting history. “We want to continue writing history by qualifying for the East Africa championships. We are not afraid of any team,” he said.
However, Yala coach Kevin Oluoch has warned against underestimating the newcomers. “Takaba is a good team. I watched their match against Kakamega. That game is like our final, and we cannot afford to underrate them,” said Oluoch.
Reflecting on his team’s 2-0 defeat to Highway in their final group match, Oluoch admitted missed chances proved costly.
“It was a tricky game. We wanted to win, but luck was not on our side. Our opponents took their chances while we failed to convert ours,” he said.
The second boys’ semi-final will see former champions Kakamega High School, popularly known as the Green Commandos, face Menengai High School.
Kakamega head into the clash full of confidence after finishing the group stage with a perfect record, capped by a 4-1 victory over St Phillip’s Baricho.
Meanwhile, Menengai secured their place in the semi-finals with a convincing 4-1 win over Tononoka. Menengai coach Peter Wekesa said his side had overcome difficult preparations after receiving a late invitation to the national championships.
“We got a late call to come here, so we didn’t have adequate preparations. In our opening match against Yala, the boys were shaky,” he said.
Despite acknowledging Kakamega’s pedigree, Wekesa insists his team has nothing to lose. “Kakamega is a good side with depth and experience. We are the underdogs and under no pressure. They should be ready to be frustrated,” he said.
In the girls’ competition, former champions Archbishop Njenga will take on St Joseph’s Girls Kitale in the first semi-final, while 2019 champions Nyakach Girls face Nairobi’s Raila Education Centre for a place in the final.
Nyakach booked their semi-final berth emphatically by hammering Kiaritha 20-0, while Archbishop Njenga maintained their unbeaten run with an 8-0 victory over Thika Girls.
Raila Education Centre secured their place in the last four after defeating Karibaribi 4-0, while St Joseph’s Girls Kitale advanced following a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Kaya Tiwi.
