Agai Mixed Secondary School from Kisumu County are ready to write a new chapter in their history when they make their debut in the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association Term Two national football games, set to kick off at the end of July in Kakamega.
The little-known school shocked many after clinching the Nyanza Region boys’ football title just two weeks ago.
Agai defeated seasoned campaigners Kisumu Boys High School 2-0 in the final to book the historic ticket to the national stage.
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Led by their principal Gordon Akoko, who also doubles as the football coach, Agai’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable.
From starting out in the sub-county level to now preparing to face giants like Musingu High School at the nationals, their rise has been a story of determination.
“It’s a dream come true,” said coach Akoko. “Many didn’t believe in us, but we knew what we had. We’ve got talent, discipline, and the hunger to go far. We may be underdogs, but we’re here to compete, not to participate.”
Agai’s road to the nationals was filled with twists and turns. In the Kisumu County finals, they lost narrowly to Kisumu Day 1-0 in a rescheduled final, finishing second.
But drama unfolded soon after when Kisumu Boys, who had lost to Kisumu Day in the semis, appealed the result on grounds of document falsification.
The appeal was upheld, leading to Kisumu Day’s disqualification. As a result, Kisumu Boys joined Agai at the regionals as the county’s second team, courtesy of being hosts.
At the Nyanza Region games, Agai were placed in a tough pool with Siaya’s St. Mary’s Yala, St. Joseph Rapogi, and Gekano.
They lost their opening match 2-0 to Yala but bounced back in style with a 4-1 win over Rapogi and a 4-0 thrashing of Gekano to reach the semi-finals. In the semis, they beat Homa Bay’s Karabok 2-0 before stunning Kisumu Boys once again in the final.
In Kakamega, Agai have been drawn in Group A alongside hosts and Western Region champions Musingu High School, Eastern’s Moi High School, and Wajir High School from North Eastern.
While Musingu are seen as group favourites due to their pedigree and home support, coach Akoko remains upbeat.
“We respect every team, but we fear none,” he said. “We will approach each match like a final. Our boys are motivated and ready to make history.”
Group B promises fireworks as well, with defending champions Highway Secondary from Nairobi battling St. Joseph’s Boys Kitale from Rift Valley, Serani from Coast, and Central’s Kirangari School.
It is a group full of experienced teams, making Agai’s group slightly more open for surprises.
As the countdown to the nationals begins, all eyes will be on Agai to see whether this Cinderella story can go even further.
One thing is clear – the new Nyanza kings have already made their mark and are ready to dive into the deep waters of national football with heads held high.