Host Mombasa county men football team on Monday settled for 2-2 draw against Kakamega county in a hotly contested match of the County Assemblies Sports Association CASA games staged at the Mombasa sports club complex.
Team Mombasa composed of Mombasa county assembly members MCA's and staff pulled an impressive performance to lead with 2 goals in the first half of the match played under the sweltering heat of Mombasa.
Nicholas Otieno,pulled the charged crowd with a brace for Mombasa county assembly netting both goals in the 7 and 13 minutes of the play,a score that lasted up to the breather.
Otieno who works in the Mombasa county assembly communication department remained a thorn in the flesh of his opponents to remain the top scorer in the competition with two goals.
However,upon the kickoff of the second half,MCAs Charles Kitula of Frere town,Tobias Samba, of Tudor and Shebe Athman of jomvu kuu could not withstand pressure from Kakamega strikers, forcing them to succumb to two goals.
Kakamega striker Absom Andati,who is Igotse ward MCA entered into the score sheet for his team in the 46 minutes of the play,one minutes just after the kickoff of the first half.
Minutes later Harrison Shikuku,who is Koyonzo ward MCA took advantage of mistakes committed by Mombasa defensive side to level the scores in the 48 minutes after a spirited fight.
Earlier in the curtain riser match, Mombasa beat Nairobi county in the tag of war sport,in an encounter staged at the same venue.This years Competition will be staged in line with Covid-19 protocols.
The County Assemblies Sports Association CASA games kicked of in Mombasa yesterday with over forty counties taking part.
Chief guest who is the Mombasa county assembly speaker Harub Khatri,who spoke during the official opening ceremony thanked the government for lifting some of the Covid-19 restrictions to pave way for the sports competition in Mombasa.
"We thank the government for lifting some of the restrictions imposed due to COVID-19,to allow this sports to happen,as Mombasa county we feel honored to play host to this competitions,"said Khatri.
Some of the counties taking part include Kericho,Baringo,Kakamega,Kitui,Machakos,Vihiga,makueni,kitui,Kilifi, Mombasa,Busia,Uasin Gishu,Siaya, Kisumu,Homabay county,Kisii,Nyamira county, Nairobi county,Kiambu county.
Part of the CASA competitions include sports culture, where 2019 Culture defending champions Pokot county cultural dancer's entertained guests.Others include coast worriors of Mombasa,Kirumbizi of Lamu county and Mijikenda Dancers of Kilifi and Gonda dancers of Mombasa
Other sports activities include,Tag of war, football, volleyball, cultural dance, swimming and badminton.
Mombasa county secretary Job Tumbo said the sports competition will go a long way in promoting culture,cohesion and restoration of hope in times of crisis.
It is the third Edition after the 1st one was held in Nairobi County and Uasin- Gishu County respectively, a tournament expected to attract over 10,000 County staff players and supporters.
The games, which were to be held in June this year, were shelved due Covid-19 pandemic. Last year, the games did not also take place due to the Covid situation.
The county assembly sports association chairman, Peter Imwatok, said the tournament is set to to bring peace, cohesion and sensitize people on covid-19 vaccination
Some of the counties who did not participate are said to have been facing financial challenges ostensibly orchestrated by budget shortfalls from the treasury.
