Passenga hit Laiser Hill as champions Masaka falter

Sakina Saidi of E.T.G Nyakabiga Secondary School from Burundi (right) and Brenda Chepkemoi of Nginda Girls High School from Kenya battle for the ball during their football match at the Brookside, East Africa Secondary School Games at Eldoret Sports Club on August 29, 2016. Nyakabiga won 1-0. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • An early goal from Adida Oduor four minutes into the match gave Passenga victory.
  • Defending regional champions Masaka of Uganda fell to Alliance of Tanzania in a Pool B match.

Kenya’s Passenga High on Monday beat boys’ national football champions Laiser Hill 1-0 at the Brookside East Africa Secondary School Games in Eldoret.

An early goal from Adida Oduor four minutes into the match gave Passenga victory.

Defending regional champions Masaka of Uganda fell to Alliance of Tanzania in a Pool B match. Oduor’s goal caught Laiser Hill’s keeper Frankline Otieno unawares as he was still arranging defenders to create a wall after Passanga were awarded a free kick near the penalty box.

The match was halted for at least 10 minutes because Laiser Hill fans marched into the field in protest of the goal. The team’s spirits were further dampened after their number one keeper Otieno was injured and replaced by Erick Muhanda.

BACK TO DRAWING BOARD

“Our strategy was to get a goal and retreat to defence. That worked for us” Passenga coach Stephen Gikonya said. Laiser Hill tactician Anthony Kirimi said they are going back to the drawing board. His Masaka counterpart Simeon Mugerwa said the team was tensed.

Kenya’s Barding hit Rwanda’s Hanika TSS 2-0 in an opening Pool A match. In the girls’ football Pool A matches, Nginda of Kenya lost 0-1 to ETG Nyakabiga of Burundi. Today, Passenga face Alliance (Tanzania, Kibuli (Uganda) play Hanika TSS, Bukembe (Kenya) take on Basile of Burundi and Gisenyi of Rwanda have a date with St. Mary’s Kitende of Uganda.

Kenya’s Wiyeta and Nyakach face off on Tuesday as Alliance (Tanzania) and St. John’s Kaloleni of Kenya lock horns in another clash.