Who will be the last one standing?

This is a question on the minds of diehard fans of girls’ football as they await the battle of titans at the 2025 Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National Term Two games that begin on Tuesday in Kakamega.

With the electrifying Western crowds on their side and everything going for them, champions Butere Girls will be looking to successfully defend their title and extend their reign to three years in a row.

Butere christened Red Commandos have three national titles, two of this having been won in Kakamega, a tradition coach Edwin Sakwa says must be maintained because the fans expect nothing less than the trophy.

“We will be home, and anything short of the trophy will be considered failure by our devoted fans. Kakamega and the entire Western Region love football, and we must rise to the occasion and reward their loyalty by winning and delivering the trophy,” Sakwa said.

He added that their preparations are in top gear and his charges are all well and ready for the challenge save for Joy Angela Valencia, who suffered an injury and could not recover in time for the nationals.

“Our preparations are in top gear; the girls are motivated and raring to go. Apart from our training, competing at any level in Western hardens players and raises their game awareness hence they are able to compete against their opponents and handle any game situation,” said Sakwa.

Even so, Butere must be on top of their game to overcome their peers who are determined to dethrone them.

With this year’s competition bringing together a mix of regulars, national returnees and debutants, all eyes will be on the red commandos with hopes that they excel and lead Kenya’s onslaught at the East Africa games that the country will host.

They face an uphill from Nyanza champions Kobala Mixed, who return to the games after a two-year absence, as well as Western rivals Madira Girls, who last played in 2023 when Kakamega hosted the games.

Kobala coach Julius Aminga said that despite their two-year absence, his girls mean business and will not be in Kakamega to just participate.

“Our return to the nationals is an outcome of over three years of hard work and dedication, and the girls will be playing for the title,” Aminga said.

Nairobi’s Dagoretti Mixed, who have been regular at the games but are yet to win the title, are also resolute to bag their maiden trophy.

Butere are in Group A alongside debutants Ruiru from Central, Nasokol from Rift Valley and Dr Charles from Eastern. Kobala, Madira, Dagoretti Mixed and first-timers Mwanambeyu from Coast will battle it out in Group B. It’s in this pool where a fierce battle for the last four slots will be.