Highway stun Starehe, closer to Nairobi region football title

Highway Secondary School's football team stunned Starehe Boys 1-0 on Saturday to book a place in the final of the ongoing Nairobi Region Secondary Schools Sports Association (NRSSSA) school games staged at Jamhuri High School.

Bob Sam Onyango’s first half goal put the 2024 national champions on course to defend their regional title.

The match kicked off at a low tempo but Highway settled into the game well, attacking relentlessly. Their efforts paid off when Onyango squeezed home a low drive, giving the defending champions a 1-0 lead at halftime.

The Beldine Odemba-led side could have scored more goals in the second half but flattered to deceive in the 18-yard box.

First, Athman Yusuf wasted a glorious chance to put his team 2-0 ahead at the half-hour mark before hitting the post four minutes later after Samuel Manzi set him up well through the middle of the park. Then in the 75th minute, Prince Juma missed another glorious chance after Manzi set him up; Manzi dribbled through Starehe’s defence, releasing Juma for a one-on-one against the goalkeeper.

Seven minutes later, Highway’s attacker Byrone Odhiambo left two players for dead on the left wing and could have scored a sublime goal but Starehe’s captain recovered in time to prevent further damage, ensuring the score remained a narrow 1-0 win.

Highway will now clash with Upper Hill who saw off Olympic Secondary School with a similar score.

In girls’ category, Raila Education Centre unleashed their Arsenal on Huruma Girls, thumping them 3-0 to storm the regional final.

A first half brace from Saida Abdalla and a second half goal from Pendo Katana ensured the Kibra-based school the dominant win. They will now clash for a national slot with Soweto Academy who eliminated Our Lady of Fatima Girls in the semis.

The finals will be staged tomorrow at the same venue with the winners expected to carry the Nairobi region flag at the national school games which will be held next month at M-pesa Academy in Thika.