All four National champions, in football and volleyball, won respective opening matches during the Airtel Rising Stars Metropolitan region games that started in Loitoktok yesterday.

Battling through dazzling sunshine, intermittent whirlwinds, cool temperatures and relentless competition, Upper Hill of Nairobi County outclassed Makindu of Makueni 4-0 in a football boys' Pool "B" match at Kimana primary at the foot of the imposing Mt Kilimanjaro to bag maximum points.

Makindu started the match on the offensive and forced at least five free kicks from dangerous positions but shoot wide.

Upper Hill scored the first goal when Hemed Said picked a pass inside the box and rounded Makindu defenders before he let go a low shot into the net.

Two-goal hero Ovella Ochieng stretched the scores to 2-0 in the 32 minute to give Upper Hill a commanding lead at half time of the match that was well officiated by centre referee Beatrice Murage of Kajiado.

Wilson Njuguna was on target in the 12th minute of the second half after trading passes with Ovella inside the box.

Ovella completed his double after he connected home a left flank cross to hand the team the resounding victory.

Upper Hill coach Gilbert Walusimbi said: "We've just started the way it was expected. It was not an easy match but the boys deserved to win."

It was a walk in the park for Jamhuri of Nairobi after they beat Kiatineni of Makueni 6-0 in a Pool "A" tie.

Jamhuri who lead 3-0 at half time scored through Clinton Otego who shook the net twice while Stephen Kimari, Michael Otieno, Rodgers Oyuya and Enock Momanyi contributed one goal apiece.

In the girls' category, Olympic, chasing the opportunity to compete in the National Finals, won their opening match following a deserved 3-0 victory against Olooseos in a Pool "B" match played at Kimana High.

Sharon Adhiambo recorded a brace in the first half while Amina Fondo added the third in the final minutes of the last 25 minutes.

In volleyball boys, National champions Hospital Hills of Nairobi opened campaign on winning note after they beat Makueni Boys in straight sets of 25-13, 25-17 and 25-15 at Kimana.

Kwanthanze of Machakos who are also National champions breezed past Nairobi's Buru Buru 3-0 (25-8, 25-12, 25-14) in their opening Pool "B" volleyball match to bag maximum points.

Kwanthanze coach Justin Kigwari said: "The match was rather an easy one but we expect stiff opposition to come by as the competition progresses."

The ball game winners advance to the National Championships that will be held at Kakamega High on August 5-11.