By Daniel Ogendo
This year’s ball games warmed up as teams met at Alliance High School to participate in a pre-tournament tour known as Bush Tournament, which is both a curtain raiser and a mock to test and sharpen skills before the main menu.
Some of the sporting disciplines that attracted over 350 teams were football, handball, netball, rugby, basketball, and volleyball. Others were hockey, tennis, chess, scrabble, badminton and swimming.
Mwangi Karemi, rugby coach and Deputy Principal of the hosting school, said the event had resumed fully after the two-year break forced by the Covid-19 pandemic.
‘‘The tournament has been in existence for the last 20 years, except the pandemic years, and brings together different school teams in different disciplines as they prepare for annual games,’’ Karemi said.
Karemi noted that the tournament was started as Khaemba Cup in honour of the pioneer principal Christopher Khaemba before it was christened Bush Tournament.
It attracted regional hockey champions Mang’u High, basketball giants Laiser Hill, Butula Boys, Friends School Kamusinga, Bishop Gatimu Ngandu Girls, Nakuru Girls, Rockfields Senior, Upper Hill School, and Kenya High, among many other big and small names.
Some of the disciplines with high enrollments included basketball with 60 teams, volleyball with 50 and football with 35 schools.
‘‘The school holds sports in high esteem for whole round nurture and remain focused. Our students have been lucky to travel outside the country to learn new tricks,’’ Karemi said.
They have been to India, United Arab Emirates as well as South Africa in chess and swimming.
In girls’ basketball, Nakuru Girls were crowned winners after trouncing Alliance Girls 30-22 and 44-30.
Nakuru Girls coach and Head of Sports Charity Kibenei attributed the win to good preparation.
‘‘We have managed to humble our sisters from this great school, signalling a run for the champion’s money. We will work to improve on our weaknesses and add on our strength,’’ Kibenei said.
In Rugby, Alliance beat Kiambu High 10-0, Mang’u High fell Makueni High 12-0, while Alliance fell to Utumishi Academy 3-7. Lenana wallowed Githiga High 10-7 in the category of 15s.
In the 7s category, Kahuhia Boys beat Lukenya 17-10 and Tenwek drew with Makueni High at 10. Damacrest were whitewashed 27-0 by Butula Boys while Tenwek were humbled by Nairobi school 10-0.
The team to watch in football this year is Tenwek as they beat perennial champions Upper Hill and Makueni Boys to send a warning signal to rivals.
