Africa-Press – Kenya. Following the conclusion of the regional secondary schools term two games, teams now turn their focus to the nationals scheduled for Nakuru between this Friday and Monday next week.
Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) secretary general said most of the games will be staged at Nakuru High School while Rift Valley Sports Club will host lawn tennis and Shah Lalgi High School will host badminton.
Ngugi said they are satisfied with the facilities in Nakuru and is looking forward to a highly competitive championship. The four-day championship will be used to select teams to represent Kenya at the Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association games scheduled for Arusha, Tanzania from September 15 to 24.
In the draws released on Monday, girls’ hockey defending champions St Cecilia Misikhu were drawn in Group ‘A’ alongside Mwiki, Moi Girls Marsabit and St Mary’s Tachasis from Rift Valley. Pool ‘B’ has Nyanza champions Nyamira Girls, Trans Nzoia mixed, Matuga Girls and Karima.
Nyamira Girls head coach Eliakim Obondo said: “It’s a tough draw. We are in the group of death but our target remains to play in the final. Our main opponents remain champions St Cecilia Misikhu.”
In the boy’s category, former East Africa champions Kisumu Day were handed a tough draw against St Anthony’s, Friends Kamusinga and Mang’u High in Pool ‘A’ while Katangi, St Georges, Chegoywet and Jamhuri will face off in Pool ‘B’.
Kisumu Day coach Booker Odhiambo said: “It’s a tough group. All teams are strong and we shall take them seriously. We want to reclaim the title we last won in 2003 and proceed to Tanzania and reclaim the regional title we last won in Gulu, Uganda in 2017.”
Odhiambo will bank on goalkeeper Egeen Nathan, Dickens Okumu, Paul Odero and Dan Aboud in his bid for the national title. In boys’ basketball, newcomers and Nyanza champions Onjiko Boys, coached by the principal Joseph Were and his deputy Gordon Ogutu, face a Herculean task in Pool ‘A’ against Dagoretti High, Friends School Kamusinga and North Eastern region representatives.
Laiser Hill Academy headline Pool ‘B’ alongside Lukenya Academy, Pioneer School and Dr. Aggrey from Coast. In the girls’ category, Nyanza’s Ototo School, coached by their principal Clement Nyakinda, will make their nationals debut in Pool ‘A’ where they will face St Joseph’s Kitale, Tigoi Girls and Chogoria. Pool ‘B’ has Olympic, Loreto Limuru, Kaya Tiwi and representatives from North Eastern. The 3on3 basketball draw will be done at the venue.
In the absence of football champions St Anthony’s Kitale and Nyakach Girls, new champions will emerge. In the boys’ category, Nairobi’s Highway have been pitted against Mbooni and Bukembe while Pool ‘B’ has giant killers Kabarnet Boys, Lake Olbolsat Serani and Nyanza representatives Kisumu Day.
In the girls’ football, Kinale, Kibauni, Dagoretti Mixed and Itigo will face off in Pool ‘A’ while Pool ‘B’ has former champions St John’s Kaloleni and Wiyeta alongside Kobala and Mwitoti.
Kobala coach Bernard Akeyo said are going to Nakuru as underdogs. “The rest of the teams in the group are experienced and have been at this level several times,” said Akeyo.
POOLS:
Netball Girls : Pool ‘A’ Kinale, Kimoson, Mbagathi and, Bumala; Pool ‘B’ Kobala, Kaya Tiwi, Katawala and North Eastern
Handball Girls: Pool ‘A’ Kamusinga, Dagoretti mixed, Simisi and North Eastern; Pool ‘B’ Kakrao, St Joseph’s Kitale, Nyathuna and Dugicha
Handball Boys: Pool ‘A’ Manyatta, Mang’u, Kamito and North Eastern; Pool ‘B’ Hospital Hill, Mbooni, Kimilili and Dungicha.
Volleyball Girls: Pool ‘A’ Nyakongo, Karima, Kesogon and North Eastern; Pool ‘B’ Soweto, Kwanthanze, Vyambani and St Mathias Mwitoti
Volleyball Boys: Pool ‘A’ Vitengani, St Joseph’s Kisumu, Ruthiitu and North Eastern; Pool ‘B’ Cheptil, Namwela, Gikondi and Kaundu
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