St. Johns whip Tanzanias Alliance to punch semi ticket

National champions, St. John’s Kaloleni blanked Tanzania’s Alliance 3-0 to qualify for the knockout stages in the girl’s football competition during the ongoing Brookside FEASSSA Games at Eldoret’s Hill School Grounds on Tuesday.

Skipper Mwanahalima ‘Dogo’ Adam stuck twice in the second half after Hellen Achieng Bwire had broken the deadlock in the 32nd minute for the victory for their third and fourth goals of the tournament.

Head coach Joseph Oyoo warned his charges against complacency as they prepare to take on Uganda’s Masaka on Wednesday in their last group fixture.

“I see more threat in teams from Kenya, Nyakatch and Wiyeta. Going forward, we must be calm without concentrating with our past victories.

“I won’t take Masaka’s match lightly because finishing top in the group means we get a better opponent in the quarters. I may rest some key players but that is for tomorrow (Wednesday),” told Oyoo.

Tobago Mwavita almost stunned the national champions in the fourth minute after stealing the ball from St. John’s defender Alice Muruu as she prepared to clear from the box, but missed the inside of the right post narrowly.

Vallary Karisa then spurned a guilt-edged chance to put the winners to the lead in the ninth with a looped shot from 30 yards having noticed the goalkeeper out of her goal line, but the effort flew just over.

The Tanzania side sat back to soak the pressure, seeking to hit on the counter and paid dearly in the 32nd when Mustafa Nuru and Jackline Baya combined well on the left channel with the latter floating the ball to the box and Bwire made no mistake, heading home past the stranded Sabibu Yusufu on Alliance goal for the opener.

She was denied a brace soon after the restart when her shot rattled the woodwork.

Mwanahalima’s brace in the 21st and 26th minutes of the second stanza killed off their opponents with her coach resting his star player as the game ebbed to the finish.

In boys rugby 15s Bungoma High whipped Uganda’s Makerere 28-0 in the mid-morning fixture at the same grounds.

Erick Otieno scored a try and two penalties for Bungoma as they atoned for going down to domestic rivals Kakamega High 21-9 on Monday.