Nyakach Girls National School Chief Principal Peninah Oketch has expressed confidence in her school’s football project after Plateau Queens staged an impressive comeback to defeat Butere Girls 2-1 during the Safaricom Chapa Dimba launch exhibition matches in Kisumu.

The entertaining contest, played at a packed Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Mamboleo, officially kicked off activities ahead of the highly anticipated Chapa Dimba launch and attracted hundreds of fans eager to witness grassroots football talent on display.

After the final whistle, celebrations erupted among the Nyakach contingent as players, technical bench members and Nyakach girls students on the stands acknowledged an important morale-boosting victory ahead of the upcoming school games season.

Speaking to the media after the match, Chief Principal Peninah Okech could not hide her excitement, praising the players for their determination and performance despite going behind early in the game.

“I am very happy. My students have done very well,” said Oketch moments after the final whistle.

The principal described the exhibition encounter as an important step in the school’s preparations for the busy football calendar ahead, noting that such matches provide valuable exposure and competitive experience for the players.

Nyakach Plateau Queens had fallen behind in the second minute after Butere Girls capitalized on a goalkeeping mistake, but the Kisumu County side quickly regrouped to restore parity before halftime and later grabbed the winner in the second half to complete the comeback in front of their home supporters.

For Oketch, the victory was not just about the result, but also about building confidence and belief within the team as they prepare for regional and national competitions.

She also reserved special praise for Safaricom for continuing to invest in grassroots football through the Chapa Dimba tournament, saying the competition has become a major platform for nurturing young talent across the country.

“We are very grateful to Safaricom for organizing this so that our children are getting the training grounds,” she said.

The principal further revealed the school’s ambitious plans for the season, insisting that Nyakach Girls are targeting success both in Chapa Dimba and the upcoming school games.

“We are planning to win this. We are going to win Chapa Dimba and we are also going to win the school sports,” she confidently stated.

With the school games set to begin in the coming weeks, Oketch said the institution is fully focused on building a team capable of competing beyond the regional stage and representing Kenya at East Africa competitions.

“This time in two weeks we are starting. My objective is to win the Nationals, take our kids to East Africa and wherever Safaricom Chapa Dimba is taking us, we want to go,” she added.

Her remarks reflected the growing ambition within Nyakach Girls’ football program, which continues to gain momentum through increased exposure and participation in competitive tournaments.

The exhibition victory over Butere Girls now provides Plateau Queens with a strong foundation as they continue preparations for the season, with both players and school management hopeful that the team can translate the early promise into silverware in the months ahead.