Defending champions Githurai All Stars staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Kawasaki 2-1 and retain the Sakaja Super Cup title at Dandora Stadium on Friday, December 20.
The hard-fought victory in the men’s final earned the champions Ksh. 3 million in prize money, while Kawasaki settled for Ksh. 2 million as runners-up.
The eagerly anticipated match, a repeat of last year’s final, delivered high-intensity football from the first whistle. Kawasaki’s Sedrin Achweya broke the deadlock in the 17th minute, weaving past Githurai’s defense to convert a precise cross from Hector Madegwa with a low shot that left goalkeeper Ishmael Otieno helpless.
Kawasaki appeared to double their lead ten minutes later when Madegwa lofted the ball over Otieno, but the goal was ruled offside, keeping the scoreline at 1-0.
Githurai equalized in the 50th minute when Edwin N’gang’a capitalized on a defensive lapse by Collins Otieno, deftly chipping the ball over Kawasaki’s keeper Kassim Maanga. The game turned increasingly physical, with Kawasaki’s Robert Sande receiving a yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Kennedy Odhiambo in the 61st minute. Odhiambo was stretchered off and replaced by Douglas Nyaosi.
Kawasaki’s chances took a major hit in the 77th minute when Lennon Amugoza was sent off with a straight red card for using abusive language toward the referee. Githurai capitalized on their numerical advantage, with Hasan Masoud netting the winner in the 82nd minute during a goalmouth scramble following a corner kick.
After the final whistle, Githurai captain Kelvin Njuguna expressed his team’s gratitude and resilience. “That early goal scared us, but we kept our composure and pushed forward. This win motivates us to tackle the FKF Division 2 league with even more confidence,” Njuguna said.
Kawasaki team manager Garang Maingi graciously accepted the defeat, saying, “We’ll live to fight another day.”
In the women’s final, Shrink Park Starlets were declared champions and awarded Ksh. 1 million after their opponents, South C Queens, were disqualified for fielding ineligible players in the semi-finals.
Individual awards were also presented:
Most Valuable Player: Robert Sande (Kawasaki)
Most Promising Player: Jermaine Mukhatia (Shauri Moyo United)
Best Goalkeeper: Ishmael Otieno (Githurai All Stars)
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Hussein Mohammed commended Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson for spearheading the initiative, emphasizing its impact on grassroots sports development.
“This tournament is a transformative platform for nurturing talent from the grassroots,” Mohammed said during the event. “Over 780 teams participated, showcasing incredible potential. We aim to harness this talent and elevate our teams to national and international levels.”
Governor Sakaja, who presided over the derby, reiterated his commitment to sports development, announcing ongoing construction of stadiums in Nairobi. “Next year, facilities like Kihumbuini and Woodley will be ready, allowing us to accommodate more teams and provide better venues,” he stated.
Sakaja also promised to expand the tournament and include other sports disciplines. “Sports can pay. We want to give our youth opportunities to showcase their talent and earn a livelihood. The next edition will be bigger and better,” he added.
With participation from over 780 teams across Nairobi’s 17 sub-counties, the Sakaja Super Cup has firmly established itself as a key platform for nurturing Kenya’s football stars of tomorrow.
