National Secondary Schools Term One Games: All Set to Kick Off in Machakos
The Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) competitions will formally begin on Tuesday, April 8–13, at Machakos Boys High School in Machakos County.
Teams arrived on Sunday and started light training at Machakos Boys on Monday in preparation for the games, which Education Principal Secretary (PS) Belio Kipsang will formally open.
This year’s school games include a Rugby 15s girls’ category, following the introduction of Rugby 7s in last year’s term two games in Kakamega, with St. Mwira’s Girls hoping to make history as the first school to win the title, as they did last year in Kakamega.
In the boy’s category, hosts All Saints will be hoping to improve on last year’s 38-0 defeat by incumbent champions Butula by winning their first title, which they know will be a difficult task.
However, Shimenga Livondo’s charges, who defeated rival Koyonzo 13-3 in a thrilling western area final, have already announced their resolve to win a second title.
“We are going to fight and defend our title; we are ready for the task ahead,” Livondo told the press.
The two will start their title defense against St. Patrick’s Iten and Kisii School, respectively, as members of group A.
Other matchups will include Nairobi region titans battling Kitondo, as well as previous champs Mangu and Marafa.
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On the first day of hockey games, heavyweights and title contenders Musingu High School, the defending champions, and St. Anthony Boys Kitale will square off in Pool B’s opener.
St. Anthony is hoping for a perfect start to this season as they attempt to recapture their title after losing it 1-0 in the final last year.
In other matches, Meru School will face a litmus test against Nairobi School, and St. Charles Lwanga will face Ringa Boys. Murang’a of Central will face host Katangi in another encounter.
In the girls’ contest, last year’s third-place finishers, AIC Nyayo, will face off against silver medalists Tigoi Girls, who are looking for their first crown after failing three times previously.
Reigning champions Nyamira, who are in group A with the pair, will face former champions Pangani Girls, who have been looking for their first title since 2008.
In other matches, St. Joseph’s Kitale, the bronze medalists from last year, will face Mpesa Academy, while St. Joseph Kibwezi will face St. Charles Lwanga.
In basketball, Laiser Hill Academy will begin their title defense against Lukenya, while last year’s runners-up, Dagoretti High, will face North Eastern in pool A matches.
Agoro Sare will face Sigalame, a western area powerhouse, in Pool B, while previous champion Dr. Aggrey will play Pioneer.
In the girls’ competition, Nyakach, who qualified after Ng’iya Girls’ disqualification from national events for fielding an ineligible player, will take on the defending champions Butere Girls.
Former Champions Buruburu Girls will meet Mpesa Academy in another Group A match.
Kaya Tiwi, the four-time champions, will meet Nasokol from the Rift Valley in Group B, while hosts Ikutha will welcome North Eastern in their first encounter.
In pool A, reigning champions Hospital Hill and St. Luke’s Kimilili face North Eastern and Handege, respectively.
Mbooni, who nearly fell to Hospital Hill in last year’s final, will start their account against Manyatta, while Mwangea faces Saniak in another group B match.
In the girls’ contest, newcomers Kwanthanze, led by head coach Justin Kigwari, known for his outstanding volleyball exploits, are toasting their debut in handball, hoping to make history in their first appearance.
On Tuesday, the hosts will play Moi Forces Girls from Coast, while reigning champions Moi Girls Kamusinga will face last year’s bronze medalists Dagoretti Mixed in Pool A.
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Mirundiko and Ulanda will compete in pool B matches against Nyathuna and North Eastern, respectively.
KSSSA Secretary General David Ngugi feels it will be a tremendous success after Brookside Dairy invested 30 million shillings in the competitions last week.
“We look forward to good competition. As always, we will assure fair competition and any instances of cheating will be dealt with sternly,” Ngugi stated.
National Secondary Schools Term One Games: All Set to Kick Off in Machakos
