Barding silence Bukembe in Rising Stars opener

Barding silence Bukembe in Rising Stars opener

Barding High of Lake Region silenced Nzoia’s debutants Bukembe Boys 2-0 in the opening match of the Airtel Rising Stars Secondary Schools Sports Association’s Term Two B finals at the Kisumu Moi Stadium on Tuesday.

Ziko Kombo and Albert ‘Olunga’ Barasa scored in both halves for the home side for the victory in a performance that delighted their coach, Chris Otieno.

“Every playing team wants to win, so we are very happy for the end product of our training. They gave us a fair challenge and I congratulate my team for maintaining the tactical discipline that has brought us this far.

“We will build on this in our subsequent matches,” he added.

Captain John Odinga, whose idol is Spain captain, Sergio Ramos, is optimistic they will make it to the East African Games later this year in Eldoret.

“We thank everyone who has supported us this far, especially our principal who has been so close to us. We want to keep scoring in every match so that we achieve our ultimate goal of representing Kenya,” the skipper asserted.

The game dubbed by watching locals as the ‘Mashemeji Derby’ after the clash of Kenyan Premier League giants Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards was tighter than the final score suggested.

Barding settled early troubling Bukembe with quick exchanges upfront spearheaded by Kombo and Keegan Ndemi who fashioned three attempts on goal within the first five minutes with the former delighting the crowd with his dribbling skills on the left.

In the seventh, Clement Okring waltzed past Bukembe’s trio of Kevin Simiyu, Milton Mukabwa and Brian Wanyama before releasing Barasa whose low drive fizzled just wide with the stretched keeper Jeremiah Mesuswa beaten.

Barding got the breakthrough in the 15th when Mesuswa’s blunder in the box was punished by Kombo with the goal rousing Bukembe into action through Omondi who found the side-netting as they sought a quick equaliser.

The same player almost levelled matters a minute after halftime when his shot from range was punched out by Barding’s keeper.

It encouraged Bukembe to venture forward as the Lake champions sat back to hit on the break and the strategy paid off near the end when Barasa robbed the ball from the midfield, rounded the keeper and tucked into the net to seal the result.

Nyakach Girls subjected Kirigara to a 4-0 thrashing in a Pool A girls clash.  They led 1-0 through Mercy Airo before goals in the second half from Velma Juma, Airo’s brace and a Kirigara own goal killed off the game.

Kathungi High stopped Cheptenye 2-0 through first half  strikes from Leja Rashid and Rashid Salim.

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Airtel Rising Stars Barding Bukembe Boys

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