Schools: Kenyan teams keen on defending football title

William Odhiambo (right) of Barding High School (kenya) vies for the ball possesion against Tony Kiwalazi of Kibuli School of Uganda during their East Afrca Secondary School Games football match at Hill School, Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County on August 31, 2016.[PHOTO:DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD]

• Upper Hill ready for challenge
• The three teams will be under pressure to ensure that Kenya retains the coveted trophy

East Africa games begin in Gulu, Uganda, on Saturday.

Kenya dominated last year’s Brookside East Africa Secondary School games in Eldoret, where they retained the overall title.

The most decorated of them all was Barding High School, who defeated giants St Mary's Kitende of Uganda 1-0 in the boys' football final. That memorable win ended Kenya’s 13-year wait for the second boys’ football crown.

With three days to this year’s regional games in Gulu, Uganda, all eyes will be on representatives Upper Hill, Kakamega High school and St Anthony’s Boys Kitale.

The three teams will be under pressure to ensure that Kenya retains the coveted trophy in the absence of Barding, who could not make it past the Nyanza Region games.

However, they face an uphill task against wounded Ugandans who left the country promising to return the favour in their own backyard in this year’s edition. National champions Upper Hill will be praying to the football gods for a timely favour this year.

Upper Hill coach Joseph Makokha said with teamwork, the Kenyan teams would definitely carry the day.

“We just have to get together and come up with a working strategy. There are three teams and if we put our heads together, we will surely come up with the best plan,” Makokha said, adding that they were ready to take the battle to the Ugandans.

“We are not afraid of them (Ugandans). We have played them before and it will not be any different."

His St Anthony’s counterpart Peter Mayoyo remained confident that even though the teams took a break from training during the election period, they are still strong enough.

 

Trained well

“I believe the teams have trained well and are ready. We will work together and at this point, our first goal is to qualify for the knockouts,” Mayoyo said.

Former East Africa champions, St Anthony’s, will be hoping to end a 14-year trophy drought as they chase their second regional gong. Kakamega’s Green Commandos will also be out to make a memorable return to the games after missing the last two editions.

Upper Hill are in Group A together with hosts Kibuli and St Joseph’s Layibi. St Anthony’s will have 12-time champions St Mary's Kitende to reckon with in Group B, while Kakamega are in Group C with Jinja and Nakaseke International School.