Barding book semis date with Ugandan champions Kibuli

National finalists, Barding High, knocked Rwanda’s College Gisenyi out of the ongoing East Africa Secondary School Games, winning 2-0 in the first boy’s football quarter-finals played at the Hill School Grounds on Thursday afternoon.

Aboubakar Omondi Sadiki and Ziko Kombo struck in the 64th and 77th minutes to fire the George Owoko coached side into the semis, booking a date with Ugandan champions Kibuli who edged Tanzania’s Alliance 2-1 in the second quarters match played at the Eldoret Sports Club.

Barding and Kibuli will be meeting for the second time during the tournament; the first being a 1-0 win in favor of the Lake Region champions during the group stages.

Barding versus Gisenyi was an open contest and although the chances came for both sides, the Kenyans dominated their opponents and were, in the end, deserved qualifiers.

Trevor Omondi and Kombo had tested Gisenyi’s custodian Selge Ntagisanayo inside the first six minutes while Jean Claude Niyomugambo’s screamer flew over the bar a minute later as the match quickly livened up.

Issa Bitimana cleared the ball off the line to salvage the Rwandans from a 20th minute strike by Keegan Ndemi, who rounded Ramadhan Dusingilemungu before firing a cracking shot that the keeper could not hold on to.

Kisumu national finals’ most valuable player in the Arnold Onyango was a constant thorn in the flesh of Gisenyi’s midfield, thwarting their every build up play.

Barding returned from the break more determined, Kombo and Sadiki keeping Ntagisanayo busy as they pressed harder for an opening goal.

Froterne Iradukuna hit the post with a feeble shot that had beaten keeper John Otieno at the hour mark. Four minutes later, Kombo, outran Bitimana on the right before floating in a sumptuous cross across the goal that Sadiki turned in.

Buoyed by the goal, Kombo, who was later awarded the man of the match, rattled the woodwork in the 69th in the box before Sadiki missed a one-on-one situation against Gisenye’s shot stopper.

Junior Muridakabi was shown the marching orders for a dangerous play on Onyango ten minutes before time, reducing the visitors to ten men and killing any hopes of a comeback.

Kenya’s Passenga play 11-time champions St. Marys Kitende of Uganda while Friends School Bukembe take on Masaka in the final two matches of the last eight.