Green Commandos aiming high despite slow season start

National Super League (NSL) newbies Kakamega High School head coach Brendan Mwinamo has vowed to win their second league clash after drawing 1-1 against fellow debutants Coast Stima on Monday, in their season opener at Bukhungu Stadium.

The Green Commandos, who gained automatic promotion to NSL last year after clinching FKF Division One Zone B league title, were headed for a debut win after taking early lead in the second half through forward Henry Atola, only for Stima’s Collins Kombo to level in the death.

Speaking to Citizen Digital, Mwinamo lamented poor goalkeeping for the stalemate, saying the goal was gifted by his custodian Seiph Mwinyi.

”The match was okay and my boys played really well until the goalkeeper let us down allowing the ball slip off his hands. It was too late for us to rally for another goal.

“My defense was also shaky, and it could have been rough for us had we faced a very clinical side in finishing. It was however our first match of the season, so we noted our mistakes which we must correct seeking a win in the second match,” Mwinamo stated.

Commandos next face Nairobi Stima on Saturday at the Karuturi grounds and the 2014 Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) national champions’ tactician is upbeat bettering Monday’s.

“Most coaches fear to boldly reveal they are contesting for the title once they are promoted to new leagues in their first season, but for me this is not the case.

“We have drawn in our first tie, and the next one must be a win to start firing our target to win NSL and get KPL promotion in our first year.” Mwinamo asserted.

Mwinamo who led Commandos to finish third in last year’s Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Associations (FEASSA) in Uganda has however conceded they are facing serious financial challenges that could dent their ambitions if not checked.

“Our main challenge now is lack of sponsorship and there are rumors going around that Kakamega County government has sponsored us. This is not true although we have reached them on the issue and we are waiting to see how they will respond,” said Mwinamo.

The team has however been boosted by the coming in of Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala as their patron.

The school is renowned for producing fine football talent with the likes of Kenyan international Cliffton Miheso (Buildcon FC-Zambian) among them.