Serani Boys High School beat Nairobi’s Dagoretti High School by a solitary goal to book a date with Western’s Koyonzo in the final of the 2019 Copa Coca-Cola Under-16 Schools Championship at the Kisumu Polytechnic on Friday afternoon.
Koyonzo equalized late against Garissa’s Boys Town to take the game to its full length and ultimately prevailed 6-1 in post match penalties.
Boys Town who had quckly turned into favorites for the neutrals had gone into a lead at the stroke of half time with Ismail Abdullahi scoring at the stroke of half time. However, Arnold Bukasa took Koyonzo level with virtually the last kick of the game.
On penalties, Koyonzo were more clinical with Fredrick Barasa, Chrispinus Nanenge and skipper Isaac Simiyu scoring while Wellington Andai and Darius Machio’s kicks were saved. Boys Town were lethargic in their penalties and only skipper Mohammed Barre scored and it was after a retake following the Koyonzo keeper’s line infringement.
Issa Mohammed Adan struck the post while skipper Abdirisack Noor and Abdi Hassan Mohammed saw their penalties saved.
In the other semi-final, Serani who are coached by Bandari Youth tactician Daniel Lenjo were clinical in their approach and jealously guarded their single goal advantage after Mohammed Sufii gave them an early lead.
The deadly goal poacher raced to a defense splitting pass from Juma Mwinyikai before shooting low past the keeper. Mwinyikai had made amends with the assist having missed a clear chance just two minutes before.
The striker raced to a ball that was misjudged by the defense, but his attempt at lobbing the ball over the keeper went awry. In the second half Mwinyikai thought he had added in the second with a simple tap in inside the box but the goal was ruled out for offside.