FEASSSA Games: How alumni meeting and FKF Premier League experience turned Butere Boys into football powerhouse

The Butere Boys High School football team, class of 2025, etched their name in the annals of history as the first side from the school, nestled in Kakamega County’s Butere Sub-County, to step onto the Federation of East Africa Secondary School Sports Association (FEASSSA) stage.

Follow Our WhatsApp Channel For More News

Under the captaincy of Dennis Kikwae, the team nicknamed The Exodus defied the odds and became the first sporting discipline in the school’s history to play in the continental secondary school showpiece.

From the zonal rounds to the county stage, Butere was like a fortress guarded by the unyielding gloves of Daniel Masakhwe; not a single goal breached their walls.

Yet at the county level, it was Munyika and Musingu who managed to find chinks in the armour of defenders Ferdinand Isaac, Benson Ochieng, Wafula Washington, and Collins Luvai.

After a storm of controversy over the eligibility of players who had previously featured for Kakamega High School and Musingu High School at the county level, Butere were declared county champions for the first time in school's tenure.

Their regional journey ended prematurely, but fate handed them a wildcard to the East African stage as the host school.

At the regional showpiece, Butere became the dark horse galloping past expectations.

FEASSSA Games: Butere post decent debut as defending champions Amus College stumble

Under the stewardship of Kakamega Homeboyz assistant coach Paul Okatwa, former Vihiga United tactician Bousted Mukolwe, goalkeeper trainer Joel Makambo, and Naftali Ekombe, the team went unbeaten in Group A, a run that turned murmurs of doubt into roars of belief.

FEASSSA Games: Musingu's penalty hero eyes FKF Premier League to rewrite family story

They opened their campaign with a barren draw against Kizuka Secondary School, followed by a 1–1 draw with Ugandan champions Buddo SS.

History was made when they edged Musingu High School 1–0, their first-ever East African win.

Momentum carried them to a 2–0 win over CFGK Kichukiro, a 4–0 rout of Highway Secondary School, and a 1–1 stalemate against 2024 champions Amus College.

Their fairy tale met its first twist in the semi-finals, where eventual champions Bukedea Comprehensive Academy from Uganda stopped them in their tracks with a 1-0 beating.

Goalkeeper Masakhwe and the defenders managed six clean sheets in eight games.

Though they fell short of clutching the crown, Butere left the tournament with heads held high, a team that arrived as underdogs and departed as a rising powerhouse.

Speaking to Mozzart Sport, the school’s games teacher, Moses Shalo, revealed that this success was no stroke of luck but the fruit of a seed sown two years ago.

“In 2023, the alumni came together with the administration and all games teachers to chart a four-year plan to make Butere Boys a force to reckon with,” said Shalo.

The alumni meeting brought together a constellation of football stars , former Sofapaka captain Titus Achesa, Harambee Stars defender Johnstone Omurwa, Kakamega Homeboyz striker Kevin Amwayi, Hassan Saleh of Monterved University, and many others including Benard Ouma, Oscar Injika, Julius Masaba, and Clinton Okoth.

FEASSSA Games: Kenya beats Uganda to reclaim East Africa title

Shalo said the roadmap is still unfolding, warning rivals that the foundations laid will only grow stronger.

"We have a plan and a path. To our opponents in Kakamega County: brace yourselves, because this is only the beginning.”

He credited the school’s resurgence to the blend of alumni backing, administrative commitment, and high-calibre coaching, with CAF-accredited coaches molding raw talent into a cohesive unit.

Butere Technical Bench

"I thank coaches Okatwa, Ekombe, Bousted Mukolwe, and our young goalkeeper trainer Makambo for making the boys believe in themselves.

The boys are getting quality coaching, and the motivation from Principal Habil Malika, the school management, the community, and the alumni is sky-high,” Shalo noted.

Reflecting on the campaign, he added:

“I thank God for how far He has brought us and the Kakamega County government for the opportunity to compete. We played six group matches without losing, collecting 12 points and finishing second, just one point behind Musingu High School.”

As the dust settles on the 22nd edition of the FEASSSA Games, where Butere Boys finished fourth, plans are already underway for the team to register in the FKF Regional League and compete in youth tournaments to stay ahead of the curve.