Gor Mahia youth clinch Nairobi regional league

Gor Mahia U19 side are emulating the senior side. As the senior side marches towards an unbeaten season, the youth side had an equally impressive season in the Nairobi regional league

courtesy of the Nation

Gor Mahia Youth were on Sunday crowned champions of the Nairobi Regional League after dispatching Naivas FC 5-1 in an entertaining play-off match at Camp Toyoyo grounds in Nairobi’s Jericho Estate.

The K’Ogalo junior side had emerged top in zone ‘D’ of the Provincial League while Naivas had topped zone ‘B’. Kakakuona topped zone A while Uweza topped zone C.

However in the play-offs that begun on Saturday, Gor Youth dispatched Kakuona 4-0 while Naivas beat Uweza 2-1 to set up yesterday’s sumptuous final.

ONYANGO STOOD OUT

Gor striker Derrick Onyango, a Form Four candidate at Highway Secondary School in Nairobi, was the hero yesterday, claiming a hat-trick to help his side rally from a goal down to bag the trophy while Clifford Nyakeya and Joseph Waruinge added the other goals.

Despite the defeat, Naivas will join Gor in competing in the National first division league next term.

Naivas begun strongly, rattling Gor with an early goal when Constant Ouma pounced on a loose ball at the edge of the area and raced forward to make a sublime finish, beating Gor’s goalie Vincent Odhiambo to the far left corner of his post in the second minute.

However from then on, Onyango dominated the show, hauling his side level in the eighth minute through a low shot and made it 3-0 in the 34th minute from the spot.

“The boys have been together for long and they played with determination. They are motivated and want to emulate the senior side,” Gor Youth head coach Maurice Onyango said after the match.

Playing with grace and composure, Onyango completed his hat-trick five minutes after the interval with a simple tap in after being played in by striking partner Daniel Otieno in a free flowing move.

In the regional league, Gor Youth amassed 72 points after winning 23 matches, drawing three and losing two. Onyango’s boys will now shift focus on the Nairobi Champions Cup where they face Kenpoly this weekend.