Africa-Press – Kenya. Rugby powerhouses Maseno School and St Mary’s Yala will renew their rivalry at the 13th edition of the Yala Invitational Tournament this weekend.
St Mary’s School Yala Games Coordinator and Tournament Director Peter Ojwala said the two rivals are among the teams that have confirmed participation at the annual tournament. Both are aiming to dethrone Kisii School, the three-time Nyanza regional 15s rugby champions.
Other confirmed teams include national champions Vihiga Boys, Rift Valley giants St Anthony’s Kitale, former national champions Kakamega High School, and Boaz Adit’s Ambira High. The teams will compete in both rugby 7s and 15s.
Stiff competition is expected in football, where former national champions St Anthony Kitale and Kakamega High School’s Green Commandos are favourites. They will face challenges from hosts Ambira Mobimba, Barding Boys, Karabok High, Butere Boys, and Ebwali High, among others.
“We expect more than 60 institutions. Some schools are fielding two teams per discipline. We have already secured venues for the two-day event. Football has attracted the highest number of teams, and we have booked eight pitches,” said Ojwala.
He added: “Being the first tournament of the year, most teams will be eager to gauge their level of preparedness ahead of KSSSA and other games.”
“Yala is also using the tournament to assess our teams as we seek to continue our dominance in Nyanza,” Ojwala remarked. The tournament is sponsored by Indomie and Coca-Cola, among others.
Elsewhere, former Nyanza region boys’ soccer champions Agoro Sare will kick off preparations this weekend at the Asumbi Complex Open Tournament. “We are keen to reclaim our regional title. We started our preparations at the beginning of the term, and we want to test the team at Asumbi,” said Agoro Sare coach Paul Odok.
Tournament coordinator Kennedy Odongo said more than 40 teams have confirmed participation in the annual basketball tournament. “We expect national basketball champions Butere Girls and former regional champions Nyakach Girls, among other teams,” said Odongo.
At the same time, the Nyanza regional games clinic will take place from Feb 29 to 31 at Kasagam Secondary School in Kisumu.
The clinic is organized by the Nyanza Region Secondary Schools Sports Association (NRSSSA), the Regional Director of Education (RDE), and the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KSSSHA).
Participants will be updated on current rules of various games and other requirements for KSSSA competitions. All games teachers are expected to attend without fail, according to a circular signed by Allan Omondi on behalf of the Regional Education Director. Each participant will pay Sh2,500. The NRSSSA has liaised with various federations to send facilitators.
