Murhanda Teams Show their Might in Western as they Book National Finals Slot

The Under-15 COPA Coca-Cola Western provincial finals played at Kakamega High School this past weekend had all the thrill and fun as expected but saw no team upset the form book as favorites Murhanda Boys and Girls cruised to victory to lift the region’s provincial title.

While the Murhanda girls’ team were more emphatic and assured with their performance which saw them win all their matches, the boys’ team only just squeezed in thanks to a superior goal difference.

The first match of the day saw Northwestern branch teams, Kaptama boys lock horns against would-be runners-up Maraka Pefa in the wee hours of the morning. The two teams traded punches in equal measure until the 7^th minute when Caleb Kones put Kaptama ahead with a neat finish from a counterattack.

Maraka leveled within two minutes through their unplayable No.9 Kevin Shikami who would then score his second and turn provider for his team’s 3^rd before the interval. Kones pulled one back for his team just after the restart but Mohammmed Baraka restored his team’s 2-goal advantage almost immediately.

The rest of the half turned out to be Shikami’s show as he completed his hat-trick before hitting a devastating free-kick that stung the palms of Kaptama custodian Willly Kiptanui and kept him out for the rest of the action. Limo Kones scored a late goal to reduce the scoreline to 6-4.

Murhanda Boys beat Bolimbo Academy 4-1 in the second encounter, Hilton Asutsa netting a brace either side of Brian Lumasukha and Alphonic Memi’s goals as Musa Wang’ona scored the consolation goal for the highly supported Bolimbo. Asutsa and Lumasukha were also on target for Murhanda in their 3-2 win over Kaptama

Bolimbo cruised to a 3-2 win over Maraka but were sent crashing out by Kaptama who hit them for six after coming from a goal down, Caleb Kones and his brother Limo netting a brace each, Michael Kipkorir and Donald Kemei adding to the score-line.

The last match of the day between Murhanda and Maraka Pefa ended in a 2-1 win for the latter.

Ann Ngato was on target for Murhanda Girls in their 1-0 win over Ibinda Girls who revenged the defeat on Nzoia Girls hitting them 3-0, Ruth Omrunga with a brace to add to Marion Analo’s opener. Michele Indochi hit a sublime hat-trick after Lavender Lihemo’s brace to help Murhanda whitewash Amukhura 6-0.

The Murhanda duo not only won the provincial title which guarantees them a slot in the nationals but also went home with a cash price of Kshs. 50,000. The second placed teams in both boys and girls, Kaptama Boys and Ibinda were rewarded with Kshs. 30,000 and a full kit while 3^rd placed Kaptama boys and Nzoia Girls left with Kshs. 20,000 and a kit. Bolimbo and Amukhura who finished last in the boys’ and girls’ categories didn’t leave empty handed as they were rewarded with a full kit and a ball.

The last edition of the COPA provincial finals is slated for Kisii this coming weekend. Besides the Western duo, other teams who have qualified for the mid-August nationals are JMj Academy (boys), Beijing Girls and Otto Benecker (girls) from Nairobi, Coast’s Malindi United Academy and Kaloleni Queens, Rift Valley’s Gunners FC and Kapsowar Girls and Black Cats and Maragwa Queens from Central.

And That's thesteifmastertake!!