This archive report was first published on 13 July 2019.
On July 13, 2019, the 41st edition of the tournament witnessed a tough competition for teams with rich history, with four teams already eliminated before the round of 16.
Opitos, a team with a star-studded lineup, including Zambia's league top scorer Jesse Were and former Gor Mahia FC player Humphrey Mieno, failed to advance to the round of 16 after suffering a shock elimination by last year's finalist Githurai United.
Moses Giovani opened the score sheet for Opitos in the 8th minute, but Fredrick Kimondo equalized for Githurai United before the second half mark.
The two teams came back strong in the second half, firing lethal attacks at each other's defense until Kevin Osoro netted a goal for Githurai United in the 80th minute, giving them the much-needed confidence to win the game.
According to Jesse Were, the game was tough, showing how much Kenyan football has grown over the past few years.
'I have played for Opitos in the Kothbiro off-season tournament before, and from what I have seen today, Kenyan football is on the right path if young people continue getting chances to expose their talents,' Said Were.
