Spot-on Kwale down Turkana to complete KYISA sweep

Kwale County claimed swept to the men’s and women’s Kenya Youth Inter-County (KYISA) Games titles on Sunday as the week-long competition came to an end at Unoa Grounds in Makueni.

The men’s final between Kwale and Turkana Counties went the full distance following a 0-0 draw in regular time with the former winning the post-match shootout 5-4.

Kwale’s Zacharia Haimisi scored the decisive spot-kick for the 2015 winners after Turkana’s captain Kelvin Ayusi missed the fifth penalty to hand the coastal side the second KYISA title in three years.

After the win, Kwale completed the football sweep following their ladies who downed immediate champions Kajiado 1-0 in the final.

Speaking to the Citizen Digital in a post-match interview Kwale’s tactician Kingunge Ibrahim said good preparations for the tourney helped his team to toss this year’s fourth edition.

“Turkana was very tough and their players tactically they are very strong but we did in 2015 and I was confident we can complete double for our county after ladies did it yesterday. I am proud for my County,” said Kingunge who has led the team since 2015.

Kwale’s counterpart Joseph Adhula said he ought to now return to the drawing board for a fifth edition comeback next year.

“We were not lucky in the shootouts but its game and we will not lose focus because after winning bronze medal now we can do it next year,” Adhula conceded.

In their route to the finals Kwale saw off Nyandarua 2-0 in semi finals while runners up Turkana edged hosts Makueni 4-1 in the last four.

Meanwhile, in the volleyball courts Makueni ladies thrashed Kiambu by 3-1 sets to win this year’s volleyball title for the first time.

Hosts who have been guided by the Kenya Volleyball Federation director David Lunga’ho as their Patron clinched the maiden title with sets of 25-18, 20-25, 25-23 and 25-16.

In men’s category Kirinyaga were crowned winners defeating their neighbors Nyeri by 3-1 sets in a mouthwatering fina. Kirinyaga won the tie with sets of 25-22, 23-25, 25-24 and 25-21.

The eight-day event which attracted 22 counties was marred by mercenary claims in the course of the week with Isiolo and Kajiado football men team disqualified on Friday for fielding in eligible players.