Ratta United have been crowned FKF Seme Sub-Branch League champions for the 2025/2026 season after edging Dago FC 2-1 in a thrilling final match at Pap Kadundo in Seme Sub-County on Saturday.
The victory secured Ratta United’s return to the FKF Kisumu County League after suffering relegation in the previous season, capping a remarkable campaign marked by determination and resilience.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the crowning ceremony, FKF Seme Sub-Branch Chairman Kennedy Odongo congratulated the champions for their hard work, discipline and commitment throughout the season.
“I want to congratulate Ratta United for fighting hard to finish top of the sub-branch league, win the title and earn promotion to the county league. I also thank all the teams that participated in the sub-branch league,” said Odongo.
Odongo also called for the registration of more football clubs in the sub-branch, noting that the focus at the grassroots level was to expand participation and nurture football talent rather than relegate teams.
He said the adoption of FIFA Connect, a football management and registration platform, had made administrative work easier for the sub-branch leadership.
“We still need more teams in the sub-branch since there is no relegation. Our focus is on encouraging grassroots football. We have also been incorporated into FIFA Connect, which has made our work easier as management,” he said.
Meanwhile, FKF Kisumu County Branch Chairman Kennedy Ouma urged the Seme Sub-Branch to develop more referees who could undergo federation training and eventually qualify to officiate matches in the county league.
Ouma also challenged clubs across Kisumu’s sub-branches to embrace FIFA Connect, expressing concern that some teams had been reluctant to adopt the platform despite its importance in improving transparency and accountability in football administration.
He said the system was essential in ensuring that players were properly registered at the appropriate levels, preventing cases in which footballers featured in the sub-county league while also being registered in the county league, or vice versa.
According to Ouma, such irregularities had undermined the development of football and created loopholes that needed to be addressed through proper player registration and management.
He also congratulated Ratta United on their return to the county league, describing the achievement as a significant milestone for the club.
Other teams that competed in the 2025/2026 FKF Seme Sub-Branch League were Dago FC, Nyawanga FC, Nanga FC, Nyakagera FC, Kobudho FC, Ochara FC, Oceanic Spartans and Ngutu FC.
Ratta United will now turn their attention to the FKF Kisumu County League, where they will seek to establish themselves following their return to the higher level of competition.
