KENYAN teams EXCEL: Kwanthanze, Kosirai and Malava win as East Africa Secondary Schools games begin

SCHOOLS GAMES Malava Boys' player (right) spikes against Burundian side Lyceen de Ste uring the East Africa Secondary Schools games in Huye, Rwanda, yesterday. [PHOTO: ELIZABETH MBURUGU/STANDARD]

Reigning East African volleyball champions Kwanthanze, national girls and boys champions AIC Kosirai and Malava were off to a flying start as this year’s Brookside East Africa Secondary School games got underway at Groupe Scolaire Indatwa School in Huye, Rwanda.

Champions Kwanthanze beat Uganda’s Kinawa High 3-1 (25-22, 23-25, 25-20, 25-17) to get their defense campaign on track.

National queens Kosirai, on the other hand, continued with what they had started at the nationals in Machakos as they trounced Burundian side, Lycee Ste. Therese 3-0 (25-1, 25-7, 25-16) to earn their first points of the competition.

The Nandi County students who made history in Machakos after registering a 25-0 score over 4 Nep Girls of Northern Region, won the first set 25-1.

The Burundians improved to gain seven points in the second set before becoming better in the third set, which they lost 25-16. Kosirai’s Ednah Mwombe, who had scooped the Most Valuable Player award at the nationals told FeverPitch that they were in the competition for the trophy and victory in the first match was the only way to make it happen.

“We are here for the trophy, we will play our hearts out and stop at nothing to achieve our objectives; one victory at a time is all we need and we will be there,” Mwombe said.

Kosirai will today face hosts St. Aloys as Kwanthanze take on Lugulu in the hunt for their second victories.

Former East African champions Malava came from two sets down to beat home boys Lycee de Nyanza 3-2 (21-25, 17-25, 25-19, 27-25, 15-11).

Malava coach Shadrack Tovoko said: “We have played Lycee de Nyanza before and were ready to face them today (yesterday), my players were affected by the long journey but we will be better in our next match.”

Malava will play Luyanzi College of Uganda, while Hospital Hill will take on Sunshine College of Burundi today.

Rugby 15s defending champions Maseno began their title defence on a high with a 19-0 win over Namilyango of Uganda.

National champions Laiser Hill were in a class of their own as they whitewashed St Mary’s Kisubi, also of Uganda, 52-3 in their first match at the regional games. Today, Maseno will square it out with Laiser Hill who narrowly beat them, 13-12 at the nationals to snatch the national title.

In football, the Kenyan boys failed to shine as national champions Passenga High lost 2-1 to LT Gitega of Burundi at the PS Karubanda grounds. National silver medalists Laiser Hill held home team College Gisenyi to a barren draw.

The Kenyan sides face an uphill task today as they have to win their matches to revive their hopes of making it to the knockout stages. Passenga play Makongo while Laiser Hill will take on Alliance School both from Tanzania.