County champions Emusire set sights on regional crown

Head coach Billy Aluda said the team has spent the past year preparing for the competition and believes retaining the county title has boosted the players' confidence.

“Emusire are no longer regional underdogs,” said Aluda. “Having qualified for the championships for the third time, our target is to win the trophy.”

Emusire secured the Vihiga County title with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Mbale Boys at Mumboha Sports Ground. Aluda said the team is motivated by last year’s painful regional semi-final exit on penalties.

“At last year’s regional championships, we were knocked out in the semi-finals on penalties. This time, our aim is to reach the final and compete for the title,” he said.

The hosts of the 2026 Vihiga County School Games endured a tense campaign, including a narrow 1-0 defeat to Ebwali in their final Group A match. They finished second in the group with nine points, one behind leaders Ebwali.

Ebwali were later beaten 4-3 by Mbale Boys at Emusire, while Emusire edged Vihiga Boys 1-0 at Emanyinya Ground to secure their place in the final against the tournament newcomers.

“I knew our opponents were dangerous from set-pieces, used the flanks effectively and kept possession well. We therefore focused on ball retention and quick transitions, which helped us secure a convincing win over Mbale,” Aluda said.

Despite the defeat, Mbale Boys coach Abubakar Abdul described reaching the county final after a 25-year absence as a significant achievement.

“It has been a valuable learning experience. As we prepare for the regional championships, I believe the boys have gained the confidence needed to compete against strong opponents and reach more finals,” said Abdul.

Meanwhile, Madira Girls, popularly known as the ‘Soccer Assassins’, also qualified for the regional championships after a 1-0 victory over Ibubi’s ‘Maroon Queens’ at Mumboha Sports Ground.

Coach Menelick Aluanda revealed that his side was without Beryl Wanjiru, Lindiway Atieno, Tabitha Wambui and Grace Mumo, who were on national duty with the Junior Starlets Under-17 CECAFA squad. He expects all four players to rejoin the team before the regional championships.

“I hope we do not face Ibubi in the semi-finals as we did last year. We eliminated them then, and I hope both teams can qualify for the national championships this year,” Aluanda said.