A ground of sports-happy handball players from Shimba Hills Secondary School on their way to a weekend tournament took a gamble that paid off handsomely when they registered for a football tournament and caused the greatest upset, eliminating champions Waa Girls in the opening round of the Copa Coca-Cola.

They are now on course for the Sh100,000 winners' prize when the tournament enters its knock-out stage at the Mombasa Municipal Stadium this weekend. Minnows led 16 qualifiers to this weekend's quarter-finals.

Other qualifiers include former national champions Mombasa High School who rocked Tudor Day 3-0, Serani, who defeated Mombasa Secondary 2-0 and Malindi High who piped Aga Khan 1-0.

In Kisii, holders Itierio and Mosisa have qualified to the boys' and girls' knock-out stage of the Copa Coca-Cola championships' Kisii leg.

The teams, alongside favourites Kisii School and Nyambaria Boys, led in their respective pools and qualified for Sunday's knock-outs.

In the Pool A matches, Kisii High School, enjoying the support of home fans, led the group with 11 points and was followed by Lambwe from Suba in second position with 10 points.

Nyamira Technical, coached by Gilbert Omariba, survived a poor start to qualify in third position with eight points. Itierio topped Pool B with 11 points and was followed by Nyankjoba with 10 points while the third position went to Kuria's Taranganya with seven.

Surprise package Nyambaria Boys from Masaba district led Pool C with eleven points while Senior Chief Musa Nyandusi were second with 10 points.

Third place fell to Rachuonyo's Agoro Sare with eight points. Minnows Tabaka High topped Pool D with 10 points, relegating giants Cardinal Otunga High School, Mosocho, to second position.