Serani douse Tononoka to retain Mombasa County schools football crown

Serani Secondary School has successfully defended their Mombasa County Football Championship after 2-1 win over Tononoka Secondary on Friday.

An Erisat Orute double proved the difference after netting in each half for the winners.

Athman Hassan had given Tononoka hope when he leveled the scores at the start of the second half.

Tononoka came to the match seeking retribution after losing to Serani 2-0 in the Mvita Sub County finals earlier in the tournament but it was not to be.

Both sides however, advanced to the Coast Region Championships where the winner will qualify to the national tournament to be held in Kisii County next month.

Speaking after the victory, ecstatic Serani coach Alex Shikanga tipped his team to go ahead and punch their ticket to the national finals.

"It was a tough match but I’m happy our boys went for the win and they got it. We won’t rest as focus shifts to Coast Regional Championship and I assure Mombasa that we will represent them well."

Serani will be boosted by the return of their star William Gitama who jetted back home on Thursday after his outing with national team Harambee Stars in the COSAFA Cup tournament in South Africa.

Earlier in the semi finals; Serani edged Moi Forces Academy 1-0 while Tononoka Secondary outclassed Khadija Secondary 2-0.

Moi Forces finished third after 1- 0 win over Khadija Secondary.

At the same time, holders Bomu Secondary School were dethroned as the girl’s champions after being stunned 5-4 on post match penalties by Mwakirunge Secondary.

The teams finished deadlocked at 1-1 in normal time, leading to the dreaded penalty shootout.

Mwakirunge took the lead in the 18th minute through Mwanahalima Mbeyu before Stella Uchi restored parity late on to force the match into spot kicks.

Away from football, Baptist Secondary trounced Tudor Day 21-7 to lift the 3X3 Basketball title while Star of the Sea Secondary prevailed 10-2 over Mama Ngina Girls to be crowned the champions in the corresponding girl’s competition.

In Netball, St Charles Lwanga Secondary successfully retained their crown after pulverizing Miritini Secondary 24 - 4.

The regional finals will start next week (July 10) at Hola, Tana River County.