FEASSSA Games: Butere Boys bow out after narrow defeat to Bukedea
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Reading Time: 4min | Thu. 21.08.25. | 16:31
A cruel own goal by defender Felix Ochieng sealed Butere’s fate, halting an impressive run that had seen them remain unbeaten throughout the group stage
Butere Boys High School’s journey in the Federation of East Africa Secondary School Sports Association (FEASSSA) Games came to an end after a narrow 1-0 defeat to Uganda’s Bukedea Comprehensive Academy in the semi-final played at Bukhungu Stadium on Thursday, August 21.
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A cruel own goal by defender Felix Ochieng sealed Butere’s fate, halting an impressive run that had seen them remain unbeaten throughout the group stage.
The Exodus, under the stewardship of Bousted Mukolwe and Paul Okatwa, had been one of the tournament’s surprise packages, qualifying through the host county wildcard slot after winning the Kakamega County championship.
They will now turn their focus to the third-place playoff as they seek to finish their campaign on a high.
After a slight delay in kick-off, orchestrated by Bukedea Comprehensive Academy who demanded physical identification of Kenyan representatives Butere Boys, the semi-final finally got underway.
Jaffary Bukaya almost turned the opening kick of the match into a nightmare for Bukedea when his early pressure forced goalkeeper Sumaku Mayawaiakali into a nervy clearance that nearly found his own net.
Bukedea sought to stamp their authority with sharp, defence-splitting passes, but the Kenyan wall of Silas Juma and Ferdinand Isaac stood tall, intercepting and cutting off every thread of attack before it could weave any real danger.
Butere came knocking again in the 15th minute as Kamau Derrick danced past Chiruza Gloire only for Dennis Kikwae’s free kick to settle tamely in Mayawaiakali’s waiting gloves.
The Exodus soon found their rhythm, switching play from flank to flank like a maestro conducting a restless orchestra.
Silas Juma, in particular, became the pulse of their left wing, his surging runs and precise deliveries constantly teasing Bukedea’s backline.
In the 25th minute, it seemed the breakthrough had finally arrived, but a last-ditch, inch-perfect tackle by Jouan Sempasa denied Dennis Shikule what looked a certain goal.
Bukedea, under the watchful eye of Sam Kamulinde, were reduced to chasing shadows, leaving Butere’s goalkeeper Daniel Masakhwe almost idle, a spectator in a contest unfolding yards away.
The first corner of the match came on the half-hour mark, won by the tireless Bukaya, but Kikwae’s curling delivery lacked venom to trouble the Ugandans.
As the clock ticked toward the break, the chances kept coming.
In the 35th minute, Felix Ochieng rose like a hawk, his header brushing past the post by mere inches, close enough to draw gasps from the packed stands.
Butere’s dominance was like a tide, relentless, washing over Bukedea’s defence time and again, yet the shoreline remained unbroken.
By the 45th minute, the story was clear: Butere had dictated the symphony, but the scoreboard refused to dance.
The first half ended goalless, a barren harvest despite the fertile football sown by the Kenyan side, leaving the fans yearning for the second half where one moment of brilliance could break the deadlock.
The second half began with the same intensity, but clear-cut chances were rare in the opening exchanges.
Butere had the brighter start, with Juma’s wing proving the busiest.
His pinpoint deliveries tested the Ugandan backline, though the forwards struggled to convert.
In the 60th minute, Jaffary Bukaya missed a free header from close range, and moments later, he failed to capitalise on another golden chance.
On the opposite flank, Bukedea’s Businge Amos remained a constant threat, but Ochieng redeemed himself with key interventions to keep his side in the game.
Captain Dennis Kikwae tirelessly linked midfield and attack, igniting the crowd each time he drove forward with the ball.
However, Bukedea found their breakthrough in the 65th minute when a failed clearance by Ochieng ricocheted into his own net, giving the Ugandans the crucial lead.
From that point, the match opened up.
Bukedea nearly doubled their advantage in the 74th minute when Amos broke free on the left, forcing goalkeeper Daniel Masakhwe into a sharp low save.
Butere responded moments later with a fierce strike from Kikwae that whistled past the post.
As the clock wound down, the Exodus threw everything forward.
Bukaya came inches close with a towering header in the 85th minute, while Isaac saw his stoppage-time volley cleared off the line by Bukedea’s resilient defence.
Despite their late surge, the Ugandans held firm to book their spot in the final, leaving Butere to rue missed chances.
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