Champions will put their titles on the line as this year’s Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National Term One games get underway in Eldoret.
The return of rugby 15s will spice up this year’s competition as boys and girls from various schools across the country battle for national glory. Tickets to this year’s Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) games set for Huye, Rwanda in August will also be up for grabs. Champions from eight regions will square it out in rugby 15s, basketball, hockey, handball, athletics, cross-country and swimming.
Former rugby 15s champions Mangu School will be seeking to reclaim the trophy that has been elusive for many years. They begin their campaign in Group A against Eastern champions All Saints Embu and a victory in their opening game will boost their confidence. In the first Group A match, Nairobi’s Ofafa Jericho will face off with St Patrick’s Iten. St Patrick’s will be keen to capitalise on home advantage to outclass the city boys. On the other hand Ofafa will be banking on their impressive run to seal victory.
St Anthony’s Kitale from Rift Valley will leave nothing to chance when they take on Nyanza region’s Kisii School in Group B. In another Group B encounter first rising Butula Boys from Western will tackle Coast region’s Kwale High. Butula coach Simenga Livondo said that his boys are yearning to lift the national title.
“After a good run in rugby 7s last year, the boys are now determined to win the trophy. It is the first time they are competing in the longer version of the game at the national level but with hard work and determination everything is possible,” Livondo said.
In boys basketball, favourites Dagoretti High from Nairobi will tackle Western champions Friends School Kamusinga while Central’s Thika High play Lukenya School in Group A. In Group B, champions Dr Aggrey from Coast will begin their campaign in Group B against Onjiko from Nyanza while former titleholders Laiser Hill from Rift Valley will take on North Eastern’s Sabunley. Dr Aggrey, Onjiko and Laiser Hill will battle for the top two spots in their pool to keep their hopes of winning this year’s trophy alive.
Girls basketball defending champions Kaya Tiwi from Coast will play Hon DM Amin of North Eastern in their opening Group A match while returnees Butere Girls from Western will take on Nyanza’s Ototo. In Group B regulars Loreto Limuru from Central will entertain Our Lady of Mercy South B while St Joseph’s Kitale will take on Eastern champions Clay International.
Hockey boys champions St Anthony’s Kitale will lock horns with Meru School while Maseno will clash with Nairobi School in Group A. Musingu who return to the National games having last featured in 2017 play St Charles Lwanga whereas another Group B encounter will see Kapsabet Boys play Mang’u.
In the girls contest, St Joseph’s Kitale will play Hillcrest in their opening Group A match. Nyanza champions Nyamira meet their Coast equals St Charles Lwanga. Tigoi from Western will usher AIC Nyayo from Eastern to the national scene while Loreto Limuru and Afraha will meet in a clash of rookies.
Hospital Hill and Moi Girls Kamusinga will be keen to start on the right footing in a quest to retain their handball titles.
By Education News
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