St Mary's Yala celebrate after winning Nyanza Region football title on July 11,2026 in Homa Bay. [Washington Onyango, Standard]
A mini 'mashemeji-derby' is in the offing today at 12pm at the Mpesa Foundation Academy in Thika when Kakamega School face off with St Mary’s Yala in the boys’ football final of the 2026 Kenya Secondary Schools national Term Two games.
Stakes will be higher than ever before as the iconic Green Commandos look to recapture the title they last won in 2018 and prove that indeed, the throne belongs in their Kakamega backyard.
However, they face an uphill task going against the Black Saints, who are yearning to claim their spot in the history books of schools’ sports.
Having booked their tickets to Morogoro, Tanzania for the 2026 Federation of East Africa Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) games, the two sides will battle for national glory and bragging rights.
Yesterday, they won their semi-finals matches to secure the decisive duel. Green Commandos, who returned to the nationals after many years in the cold, edged out 1971 holders Menengai 2-1 in a thrilling semi-final clash that was decided in extra time.
After battling to a 1-1 draw in regular time, Daniel Ombati saved the day as he spurred the 13-time national champions to the final with his extra time goal.