In the high-octane world of football, where precision and agility are the cornerstones of success, one goalkeeper has made headlines for a rather unusual skill—his mastery of the drop kick.
Kent Nabwana, the young and talented goalkeeper for Runda Youth Sports Association (RYSA), emerged as a true drop-kick specialist. This skill has proved invaluable in his team’s triumphant campaign in the Nairobi Regional League Zone A.
Nabwana’s influence between the posts has been nothing short of remarkable. Throughout the season, he provided an astounding 14 assists, a statistic that’s rare for someone in his position.
He kept 17 clean sheets in 26 games. This blend of defensive solidity and offensive contribution made him a key player in RYSA’s successful season, which culminated in their crowning as champions of Nairobi Regional League Zone A and subsequent promotion to Division 2.
“I’m happy with my contributions in the just-concluded season,” Nabwana reflected. “The assists aren’t a big deal to me; my drop kick technique is something I’ve been working on, and with the quick, pacy attackers on my side, we had good chemistry. I could have had better stats, but I missed a few games due to an injury I picked up.”
Despite his success, Nabwana couldn’t hide his disappointment at falling short in the Nairobi Regional League finals, where RYSA was handed a heavy 8-2 defeat by Kariobangi Legends Youth FC, the Zone B champions.
“I felt bad that we fell short in the Nairobi Regional League finals against Kariobangi Legends Youth, but it’s a learning process. We’ll dust ourselves off and prepare for Division 2,” he remarked, showing resilience and a readiness to bounce back stronger.
The final was a one-sided affair, with Kariobangi Legends Youth FC putting on a masterclass in front of goal. George Karani, Victor Kunyuli, and Bramuel Kavaya all scored braces, while Laurence Otieno and Robbie Mangi added a goal each to seal the victory. RYSA’s consolation goals came from Simon Gikurumi and Samuel Indiego, but it was too little, too late for the Zone A champions.
RYSA’s journey to the top of Zone A was built on consistent performances, amassing 115 points from 45 games, with an impressive tally of 106 goals. Their record of 37 wins, 4 draws, and only 4 losses was a testament to their dominance in the league. On the other hand, Kariobangi Legends Youth FC, the Zone B champions, accumulated 110 points from 42 games, scoring 98 goals with 35 wins, 5 draws, and only 2 losses.
Both RYSA and Kariobangi Legends Youth FC have now earned their promotion to Division 2. Joining them in the promotion are the second-placed sides, Nkoroi FC and Lucky Summer Sports.
However, the journey wasn’t as fortunate for some teams. In Zone A, Classic FC, Kibagare Sportif FC, Potters FC, Karura Greens FC, Amazon Tigers, Kemri FC, Kibera Angels FC, and Ligi Ndogo Youth all faced the disappointment of relegation. Meanwhile, in Zone B, Umoja Rhinos, Hakati Sportif, Mathare North Youth FC, Rada Sports, Lula FC, and Wendani Allstars FC also bid farewell to the league, finding themselves relegated to county league after a tough season.
