Kakamega High School, the Green Commandoes brought an eight-year wait to a dramatic end, coming from behind to defeat St. Mary’s School Yala 3-2 after extra time and reclaim the KSSSA national boys’ football crown at M-PESA Foundation Academy in Thika.
The triumph extends Kakamega’s remarkable record to 15 KSSSA football titles, further cementing the Green Commandos’ place as the benchmark of Kenyan school football. Their previous national triumph came in 2018 in Eldoret, making Thursday’s victory a particularly significant one for a generation of players and supporters who had waited years to see the famous green shirts back at the summit.
The final itself lived up to its billing. Yala, appearing in their first-ever national final, pushed the experienced Western giants to the brink and looked destined to complete a stunning fairy tale.
Kakamega made an early statement when Julius Ochieng ‘ Agwambo’ capitalized on an opening to put the Green Commandos ahead. The tournament’s standout player had already established himself as one of the most exciting performers in Thika, and his early goal appeared to set Kakamega on course for another comfortable victory.
Yala had other ideas.
The Black Saints responded with courage, with Brian Javan Omondi restoring parity before the break. The Nyanza champions then grew stronger after the interval and completed their comeback when Omondi struck again in the 65th minute to put Yala 2-1 ahead.
Suddenly, Kakamega were staring at a painful ending to their title quest.
Yala defended stubbornly and appeared capable of completing one of the biggest upsets in KSSSA history. But the Green Commandos’ experience and never-say-die mentality surfaced when it mattered most.
With only minutes remaining, Derrick Wanyonyi rose above the Yala defence to head Kakamega level, forcing extra time and igniting wild celebrations among the sea of green in the stands.
Kakamega then completed the turnaround in the 104th minute. Eugene Bellety reacted quickest after Daniel Ombati’s dangerous delivery created confusion inside the Yala box, firing home the decisive goal and sending the Green Commandos towards their 15th crown.
The victory was celebrated not just by the players and school fraternity but by a mammoth travelling support that made the journey from Kakamega and across Western Kenya to Thika. The stands were transformed into a sea of green, with supporters proudly wearing jerseys carrying the message “Fear the Tradition” on the back, a fitting slogan for a school whose football history is unmatched.
Kakamega’s triumph also completed a remarkable national campaign. The Green Commandos won every match they played at the national championship, finishing their return to the KSSSA stage with a perfect record. Their resurgence after eight years away was driven by a talented squad, with Ochieng emerging as one of the tournament’s biggest stars.
For Yala, defeat could not diminish an extraordinary debut. The Black Saints arrived as Nyanza champions, remained unbeaten through their journey to Thika and reached the final before finally falling to the country’s most decorated school.
Kakamega now turn their attention to the regional stage. As national champions, the Green Commandos will travel to Morogoro, Tanzania, where they will represent Kenya at the FEASSA championships and attempt to carry their remarkable resurgence beyond the country’s borders.
