Kisasa FC’s Diamond Youth Football League campaign came to an end on Sunday, beaten 1-0 by Diamond FC A in a closely contested final at St. Mary’s Grounds.
A late second-half goal separated the two sides in a final Kisasa can look back on with pride - semi-final winners on penalties just a week earlier, and a side that competed with ten men for a long spell of the second half without conceding until the closing stages. Moses started in goal, with a back line of Lawrence Omangi, Jose, Kelvin and John ‘Richie’ Otieno ahead of him. Crispin Kiarie, Geoff and Calvin formed the midfield, with Ryan through the middle and Samuel ‘Oti’ Otieno and Nicholas leading the attack from the wings.
An Even First Half
Both sides went at each other from the off. Nicholas tested the Diamond FC A keeper early, his effort crashing back off the top of the crossbar. Ryan was next to go close, pushing past the last defender and forcing the keeper into a low save. Oti looked to have broken the deadlock midway through the half, tapping in a rebound in front of goal, but the assistant referee’s flag cut the celebration short. A long-range effort from Richie drew a good save, tipped out for a corner, and the pattern continued with Kisasa creating the better chances. Crispin, influential in midfield, came off with an injury before the break, but the team finished the half composed and level.
Ten Men, One Goal
Kisasa started the second half in good shape, Nicholas threatening down the wing early on. The game’s pivotal moment came when Richie was shown a red card following a second-half altercation, leaving Kisasa to see out the final with ten men. Diamond FC A pressed higher and pinned Kisasa back for longer spells, but Moses produced a string of vital saves to keep the game level. Taji and Yeseong came on to add energy, and Taji in particular went close twice, going through on goal and forcing the keeper into work.
But Diamond FC A found the decisive moment late on - a scrappy finish that rolled past Calvin’s outstretched tackle and beyond Moses to make it 1-0. Kisasa kept pushing for an equaliser, Taji controlling a ball in the box on his chest before being denied by the keeper, but couldn’t find the goal to force extra time. The final whistle brought a 1-0 defeat and the end of a campaign Kisasa FC can be proud of.
Semi-final winners just a week before, Kisasa competed with ten men for much of the second half of the final, falling only to a late goal against Diamond FC A.
The league campaign is over, but the evolution of this young side is not.
Lineup
GK: Moses
LB: Lawrence Omangi · CB: Jose · CB: Kelvin · RB: John ‘Richie’ Otieno
CM: Crispin Kiarie · CM: Geoff · CM: Calvin
ST: Ryan
RW: Samuel ‘Oti’ Otieno · LW: Nicholas
Subs: Taji, Yeseong, Christian
Stats
Final score: Kisasa FC 0-1 Diamond FC A
Venue: St. Mary’s Grounds (James Gichuru Road), Nairobi
Competition: Diamond Youth Football League - Final
Date: Sunday, 28 June 2026
Discipline: John ‘Richie’ Otieno (red card)
Result: Runners-up, Diamond Youth Football League Season 2
Key Moments
- Nicholas struck the crossbar inside the opening minutes
- Ryan was denied one-on-one and Oti had a goal ruled out for offside as Kisasa made the better of the first half
- Crispin came off injured before the break with the game still level
- Richie was sent off early in the second half, leaving Kisasa with ten men
- Moses made a string of saves to keep the deficit at bay; Taji twice went close after coming on
- A scrappy late finish past Calvin’s tackle settled it 1-0 for Diamond FC A
- Kisasa FC finish as runners-up after a proud Season 2 campaign