Schools battle

By Oscar Pilipili in Mbarara

The emergence of Rwanda and Kenya as bigwigs in youth volleyball will add fireworks to the Brookside East Africa Secondary Schools Games, which starts Sunday in Mbarara in Uganda.

There will be no love lost between the two countries especially in the girls’ category where Indangaburezi became the first school outside Kenya to lift the trophy in the history of the games last year following their victory over Malava in the finals played in Nakuru.

Malava and Indangaburezi are definitely teams to watch in the tournament with each side parading a number of players who have already been capped in their respective national sides.

Malava coach Barasa Mate said Nakuru’s result was a threat to the status of Kenya as the African powerhouse.

"Our girls lost in Nakuru due to stage fright. The technical bench has prepared them well both physically and psychological for the games," said Mate.

Big exposure

Malava arsenal has experienced players who feature for national junior team among them Violet Makuto, Eglay Kulova, Melvin Leonida and Joan Muhindi who were in Kenyan squad that finished third at the 2008 FIVB World Cup Qualifiers in Egypt.

Mate said: "This time our players have matured to handle any pressure on the court and the trophy must return to its rightful place where it has stayed for eight years out of the last nine."

Kenya has strong representation in girls’ volleyball with presence of national runners-up Cheptil and Tetu. Unlike Malava, who are still new on regional stage, Cheptil and Tetu are regulars in the regional games and should be able to turn gained experience into medals.

Kenya has equally strong teams in boys category led by defending champions Malava, national champions Cheptil and Tetu.

Kenya and Rwanda rivalry has been spiced up by the presence of former Kenyan international Paul Bitok sitting on the Kigali technical bench.

Talent export

Bitok has been instrumental in resuscitating Rwanda volleyball and will issuing instructions to his new employers especially in the boys’ category as the games gets underway at various venues in Mbarara today.

In hockey, Kenyan girls have predicted that the big contest will be amongst themselves during the event. Kerugoya captain Mary Kariuki told FeverPitch that it was an open secret that Kenyans would sweep the boards in hockey.

"No team has ever come forward to challenge Kenya in hockey since it was introduced on the games’ programme at Kigali 2008," Kariuki said.

"We know all the medals are our, the only issue is to decide on the pitch who will bag gold, silver and bronze."

St John’s Kaloleni captain Pascalia Neema said any of three Kenyan teams is capable of winning the trophy.

"Hockey girls’ was closely contested from semi-finals during the national games in Kenya," she said.

Kaloleni lost 2-0 on post-match penalties against Kapkolei after 1-1 deadlock in normal and extra time before Kapkolei edged out Kerugoya 1-0 in final during the nationals held in Kakamega in April.

Kapkolei captain Caroline Jelegat said they intend to leave a lasting mark on their debut.