Pomp and colour as East Africa schools games begin

EAST AFRICA SCHOOLS GAMES Kenyan students during the opening of East Africa Secondary Schools Games in Huye, Rwanda, yesterday. [PHOTO:ELIZABETH MBURUGU/STANDARD]

It was pomp and colour at the opening ceremony of this year’s Brookside East Africa Secondary Schools games held at the University of Rwanda, Huye campus grounds, yesterday.

Players donning their national colours led by their country officials marched as tunes of the Rwanda Army band blared.

Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) members Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and hosts Rwanda were present while South Sudan were not represented as they were yet to arrive for the event.

Rwandan Minister in charge of Primary and Secondary Schools, who opened the games, encouraged all teams to maintain discipline and exercise good sportsmanship. Sponsors Brookside dairies were represented by a team led by Marketing Manager Peter Wasonga.

Elsewhere, Maseno School will begin their rugby 15s title campaign this afternoon against Namilyango of Uganda at the TTC Save grounds in Huye. The East Africa reigning champions will be out to stamp their authority in regional rugby, having failed to shine at the nationals where they relinquished the title to Laiser Hill.

Maseno head coach Gilbert Onyango told FeverPitch they have worked on the mistakes committed at the nationals and are out to retain their title.

“Poor concentration was our major undoing at the nationals. We can’t allow a repeat of that. We are here for nothing less than the trophy,” said Onyango.

Laiser Hill, on the other hand, will be seeking to prove that their 13-12 victory against Maseno was not a fluke as they play last year’s bronze medalists St Mary’s Kisubi in their first ever regional match. EPTM of Burundi take on last year’s first runners up Hanna Mixed in their opener.

National rugby sevens champions St Peters Mumias will play St Josephs Laibi of Uganda as the discipline makes its entrance to the East Africa scene. Kangaru of Kenya will face their first test against Mbarara High of Uganda before taking on St Peters Mumias in a grudge match. 

In handball, 2013 girls champions Moi Girls Kamusinga begin their campaign against South Sudan’s Mbili while Sega Girls take on Mbogo High of Uganda.

Defending champions Gombe of Uganda will lock horns with Lycee Rutovu of Burundi.