KERICHO,
Kenya, Mar 7 – Goalkeeper James Murimi was the hero as debutants Laiser Hill
Academy beat season one champions Kapenguria Heroes 4-2 on post-match penalties
to clinch the Chapa Dimba Na Safaricom Rift Valley region boys’ title in Kericho
on Sunday.

Murimi
saved one penalty in regulation time and another in the shootout as the boys
from Ongata Rongai clinched the crown on their first time of asking.

The game
was forced into penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time, Laiser having
come from a goal down to equalize with 14 minutes left on the clock. Shariff
Majabe scored from the penalty spot, cancelling out Samson Tanui’s earlier goal
for Kapenguria.

On
penalties, Kapenguria lost two and scored two while Laiser scored four and lost
one.

Majabe
stepped up to take Laiser’s first making no mistake and on the response,
Gregory Kemoi saw his penalty hit the post.

Laiser
failed to take advantage as Alex Karani’s poor effort was too close to the
keeper who collected it easily, but his blushes were spared when his keeper
Murimi made a good save to deny Brian Kakuko.

Byron
Otieno and Abdirazak Hassan stepped up to score the next two for Laiser with
Kapenguria responding through Morgan Ekomais and Stephen Orare.

Skipper
Timothy Ouma stepped up to take Laiser’s final and the destiny of the cup lay
on his shoulders. He made no mistake, sending the keeper the wrong way for the
crown.

In
regulation time, it was a highly contested tie, one completely fit for a final.

Kapenguria
broke the deadlock in the eighth minute when Tanui broke the deadlock with a low
finish inside the box, picking up the ball after Laiser keeper James Muimi
clashed with his own defender as he raced out to pick a cross.

It was a
good start for the former champions as they had shown intent from the first
minute, taking the game to Laiser and not being afraid to attack.

But it was
a very closely contested duel at a fully packed Green Stadium with the two
sides locked in a midfield battle, each trying to find their way into the final
third.

While Laiser
struggled to make it count in the area of truth, Kapenguria should have had
themselves 2-0 up after 31 minutes but they lost a penalty, Alfred Tanui seeing
his effort brilliantly saved by Muimi who made amends after his earlier
mistake.

Wesley Mtai
was brought down inside the box by Isaac Teigong after dribbling his way into
the area.

They had
another chance a minute to the break but Mtai couldn’t guide the ball into the
net with a header after a cross from the left was knocked down by Alfred.

In the
second half, Laiser came back a different outfit and were menacing in attack
and compact in defense. Skipper Timothy Ouma was outstanding, doing well to
drive his team from the back.

Just three
minutes after the restart, Ouma did well to dribble past his markers on the
right before cutting back a brilliant cross, but Stephene Owino blasted the
ball over from 10 yards out.

Peter Loishorua
had another brilliant effort with a looping header off a cross from the left
going over as the boys from Ongata Rongai kept the pressure on.

They were
rewarded in the 76^th minute when Majabe scored from the penalty spot
after he was axed inside the box by Brian Kakuku.

The score
maintained at 1-1, sending the game to the penalty lottery.

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