KPA retain football title in Kecoso games

Kenya Maritime Authority's (KMA) Maringu Samuel (left) shoots the ball past Ministry of Sports, Culture and Arts (Mosca) forward Dennis Odhiambo during their Kecoso games football match at Moi Stadium in Kisumu on September 21, 2017. KMA beat MOSCA 5-4. PHOTO | TONNY OMONDI |

What you need to know:

  • The games’ athletics program begins Friday at the Moi Stadium.
  • The netball competition, which was being played in round robin format, concludes Friday at Jomo Kenyatta Sports Grounds.

The Ministry of Sports, Culture and Arts (Mosca) football team's hopes of finishing second in this year's Kecoso games were dashed by Kenya Maritime Authority on Thursday at the Moi Stadium in Kisumu.

KMA rallied from three goals down to win 5-4 in an entertaining match but it was defending champions Kenya Ports Authority who had the last laugh after emerging top on a superior goal difference to retain the title they won last year in Nakuru.

Popularly known as Bandari, KPA had beaten Kenya Airports Authority 7-0 on Wednesday evening leaving KMA with a daunting task of scoring at least nine clear goals to dethrone them.

In yesterday's match, William Odero struck a brace while Aslam Sajad added the third to give Mosca a comfortable lead but a late comeback by KMA saw them emerge with the three points.

David Omiya struck a hat-trick of penalties while Mchando Mwinyi scored two as KMA completed a successful fightback.

It was a successful day for KPA, who look destined to retain the games’ overall team trophy, after their basketball men and women's teams reclaimed the titles after a long wait.

While the women's team have not won the Kecoso title for the past five years, the men last won the crown when the games were held in Machakos in 2015.

KPA women had to overcome a strong challenge from Mosca to win 57-42 after a narrow 23-18 lead at the break while the men beat Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) 56-49 to win the crown.
The games’ athletics program begins Friday at the Moi Stadium while the netball competition, which was being played in round robin format, concludes today at Jomo Kenyatta Sports Grounds.