Men and ladies teams from Ugunja and Alego / Usonga will represent Siaya County in the regional national government constituencies development fund (NG-CDF) soccer tournament slated for Kisumu next week.
This was after teams from the constituencies trounced their opponents to emerge winners during the finals of the NG-CDF Siaya county football tournament played at the Siaya KMTC grounds.
In the men’s finals, Ugunja constituency trounced Bondo constituency 3-1 to lift the trophy, as Alego – Usonga ladies humbled Ugunja 1-0 to emerge winners.
On the way to the finals, Ugunja constituency defeated Gem constituency 2-1 in the semifinals, while Bondo and Rarieda constituencies settled for a barren draw in regular time before Bondo edging out their opponents in penalty shoot-out, converting 5 against Rarieda’s 4.
In ladies semifinals, Ugunja trounced Gem 1-0 to sail to the finals as Alego / Usonga also trounced Rarieda by a similar margin.
The finals were attended by a capacity crowd that included Siaya Governor, James Orengo and legislators Samuel Atandi (Alego/ Usonga), Otiende Amollo (Rarieda) and Dr. Christine Ombaka (Woman representative) among others.
Orengo said there was need for the country to identify and nurture talents early if the local players were to compete with the rest internationally.
He said some of the best international players such as Lionel Messi were identified when they were 12 years old and nurtured to reach where they are.
The Governor announced that the Governor’s Cup tournament will kick off soon and urged teams from the grassroots to register.
“The finals of the tournament will be played on January 1st, 2024 at Migwena grounds in Bondo,” he said.
By Philip Onyango
