Bartamaha (Nairobi):-Kenya Under-17 national football team made a sad exit from the Africa Youth Championships qualifiers when they settled to a barren draw with Somali in a tough duel played at Oserian Fastac sports grounds in Naivasha on Saturday.

Following the draw, it means Kenya has been eliminated from the continental championships on 3-1 aggregate having lost the first leg match 3-1 in the neutral Djibouti. On Saturday, the Somalis, who had earlier on threatened to boycott the match due to the change of venue from Nairobi to Oserian, played a defensive game and thwarted any efforts by the home boys to penetrate their water tight defence.

The home boys, under coach Sammy Omollo, were unlucky for not winning the tie as they lost several scoring chances including a 27th minute penalty kick. Ali Yusuf should have put Kenyans ahead but his well taken spot kick hit the upright.

Team manager Philiph Makui said his boys played their hearts out but were not lucky to convert a goal. “The Somalis used defensive tactics right from the word go and put nine men on defense and this curtailed our movement “ said the team manager.

Following the elimination, it now means Kenya has bid goodbye its hope of making to the last eight teams from the continent that will feature in the African Championships set to be held in Rwanda capital Kigali next year.

Redeem High from Ukunda and Voi’s Kingstone Villa became the first teams to qualify for the semi-finals of the Coast Region Sakata Ball Safaricom Challenge after winning their quarter final matches at Mombasa Municipal Stadium on Saturday.

In matches watched by a large crowd which included former Kenya goalkeeper Mahmoud Abbas “Kenya One”, Redeem defeated Soweto of Changamwe 2-1 while Kingstone Villa eliminated Kilifi Stars with a fine 3-0 beating. Redeem scored their goals through Riziki Suleiman and Riziki Chitswa in the sixth and 24 minutes with Soweto replying via Collins Odhiambo in the 12th minute.

Peter Ingaso scored the first double in the 27th and 45th minutes for Kingstone against Kilifi Stars with team mate Billy Ochiengo netting the other in the 33rd minute. During the pre-quarter final clash, Malindi’s Maweni beat Rabai Secondary School from Kaloleni 4-2 on post match penalties after the two teams tied 0-0 during the 50 minutes of play.
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Source:-Daily Nation

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