It’s Lakers versus Kitale Youth and Shinyalu versus Cherangany in COPA Finals

This year’s COPA Coca-Cola boys’ national title will either return to Nyanza or make its maiden appearance in the Rift Valley after Kitale Youth and Kisumu Lakers won their semifinals fixtures in the penultimate day of the under-14 championships.

Kitale knocked out defending champions JMJ Academy while 10-man Lakers beat Murhanda in the semis for the second year in a row to book their slot in the finals.

Two first half goals from Elly Saenyi and Austin Juma sent JMJ packing as their troubled campaign finally hit a dead end. JMJ who just about qualified for the semis netted consolation goal via a penalty from Vollar Okinyi.

Lakers entered their second final in succession after squeezing a 1-0 win over Murhanda in spite of being reduced to 10 men. Joseph Otieno scored the solitary goal towards the end of the first half as the Lakeside outfit became the only team from last year to survive the onslaught from newcomers.

Lakers and Kitale already met at the group stages with the Rift team triumphing 2-0 hence they will be favorites to land the national title. The boys’ final will be played tomorrow at City Stadium.

Shinyalu Girls will face Cherangany Starlets in the ladies’ finals after the Western queens rained goals on Kirindara Girls in a 5-0 mauling while Cherangany piped unlucky Nyamira Girls 4-2 in post match penalties. 

Janet Nalisi continued with her meteoric goalscoring form as she netted a hat-trick for Shinyalu I a one-sided encounter. Janet Khasowa opened the floodgates for Shinyalu in the fifth minute before the industrious Nalisi doubled the lead with a cracking finish from inside the penalty area.

A goal from Mildred Alusa and a second for Nalisi saw John Imbwaka’s side hold an unassailable 4-0 lead at the interval.

Nalisi finished her hat-trick early in the second half to soar the score to 5-0 and all but kill Kirindara’s hopes of staging an unlikely comeback. 

Nyamira dominated Cherangany but could not break their stubborn defence with the match ending barren and into penalties. Cherangany converted all their first four penalties while Nyamira’s Lydia Kirwa and Emily Rioba lost to send the Nyanza side crushing out.

JMJ will seek for redemption when they face Murhanda, who they beat 3-0, in the boys’ playoffs.

Curtains will come down on this year’s edition at the City Stadium where new champions will be crowned. Winners of this year’s title will walk home with 0.5million shillings. There will also be individual awards for best players, goalkeeper and coach.

And That's thesteifmastertake!!