Gekomoni : National champions out to defend title
Last updated on 2 Aug 2012 00:00
By Kenan Miruka
After defending their Nyanza Province Airtel Rising Stars Secondary Schools Championships football title, Gekomoni are out to be the first team from the region in ten years to defend their national title.
Gekomoni defied all odds to lift the national secondary schools boys’ football title last year, following in the footsteps of St. Mark’s Mokorogoinwa from Kisii County in 2010.
The Nyanza Province champions beat the illustrious Kisumu Day 2-1 in the regional finals played at Homa Bay High School to advance to the national finals where they will face Coast, North Eastern, and Rift Valley representatives in the group stages.
The team from Nyamira County wants to repeat last year’s exploits when secondary schools converge in Mombasa next week for the national championships as they prepare to conquer East Africa.
Elusive title
“We want to retain our national title and go ahead to win the East African Schools Games’ boys’ football crown that has eluded the country for long. The Nyanza regional games were tough and I’m glad my team went through despite injuries to crucial players in the quarters and semi-finals,” Gekomoni coach and Principal Okoyo Mongare told FeverPitch.
The coach exuded confidence that his team will break the jinx, saying his team boasts of experienced players who have trained and prepared well for the national championships.
Lost four players
“We lost four key players out of the 20 players who won last year’s title, but the squad is very strong at the moment bolstered by new players,” said Okoyo.