Netball: Kaya Tiwi gear up to break jinx in Rwanda

TERM 1 2018 GAMES Kaya Tiwi's Irene Onyango (left) from coast region and Lisa Omondi of Butere Girls during the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Term 1 National Brookeside games at Kangaru School, Embu County on Saturday April 14, 2018. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Since the inception of the East Africa secondary school games 16 years ago, Ugandan teams dominated netball.

None of the participating nations -Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania -could not match the Ugandan prowess. And national champions Kaya Tiwi School of Kwale County are ready to end the Ugandan reign.

The defunct Mombasa High School came close to the title in 2006 when they lost in the final to Kibuli of Uganda. In 2010, Shimba Hills finished third. Last year, Kaya Tiwi School finished fourth.

“We are prepared for the challenge ahead and we must end the Ugandan winning ways,” said the team’s Technical Director Robert Aran.

“The girls have prepared well and winning the national trophy with an unbeaten record shows we are ready for the task ahead,” he said.

Kaya Tiwi School are in pool B alongside St Noa and Buddo of Uganda, St Alloys of Rwanda and Tanzania’s Makongo. Pool A has Kenya’s Nyakach, defending champions St Marys Kitende and Luyanzi College of Uganda and GS Gahini of Rwanda.

At the national games held in Eldoret last weekend, Kaya Tiwi School defeated Nyakach 49-29 in the final to lift the title they lost last year to Obambo.

Kaya Tiwi School coach Philip Onyango said he was certain of a good show. “We must end this dominance by Ugandan teams especially in netball. The Ugandans must this year understand that other teams have prepared well to end their dominance,” said Onyango.

Team captain Evelyn Achieng says she is confident of steering her teammates to victory.

“This is my last year at Kaya Tiwi School before I sit for my final examination in November and my dream is to be the first Kenyan captain to have guided a Kenyan team to win the netball title,” said Achieng. [Ernest Ndunda]

Athletics
Kenyan stars ready for World Cross showdown in Belgrade
By Ben Ahenda 10 hrs ago
Motorsport
Safari Rally 2024: Tanak urges Kenyan children to take up motorsports as a career
Rugby
SCHOOLS: From the classroom to the field, Kisumu Girls ready to lift national rugby trophy
Motorsport
Safari Rally 2024: Neuville clinches Kasarani stage as Hyundai makes intention known