Saints Yala and Kitale pray for handball victory in Kisumu

Griffins Omondi of st Mary's Yala scores during their Handball matchup with Manyatta High school on the opening day of Nyanza Regional School Games.[File, Standard] 

Newbies St Mary’s School Yala will be praying to clinch the vacant handball national throne when the Brookside Secondary Schools national Term One games kick off next week on Wednesday in Kisumu.

The newly crowned Nyanza Region handball champions are confident of extending their positive run at the nationals after dominating teams at Maseno School.

Defending champions Kimilili were thrown out of the games after Musingu School rose to win the Western title.

After knocking out defending champions Manyatta by thrashing the Migori County champions 30-18 in the semifinals, Yala proceeded to defeat Kisii School 27-25 to clinch the title.

Speaking to Standard Sports, Yala coach Bon Ongili said the team they have been building for the past three years is ripe to take over the sport after an unbeaten run from the sub-county to the regionals.

“These players are special. We have a team that fights for each other, and the bond on and off the field has carried Yala to the nationals." 

“Do not expect us to be easy pushovers because their belief is even stronger now. We want to not only qualify for East Africa but also win the national trophy,” said Ongili.

Yala will, however, have to come out of the group of death composed of Western champions Musingu School, Rift Valley heavyweights St Joseph Boys Kitale, and Kenyatta Secondary School.

In girls’ handball, St Joseph's Girls Kitale will hope to turn their silver medal into gold by challenging defending champions Moi Girls Kamusinga from Western.

Commonly referred to as JOGA, the Rift Valley queens lost 24-14 to Kamusinga last year before going on to win bronze at the East Africa games in Uganda.

Despite last year’s defeat, JOGA coach Edwin Adamba believes her girls have matured to compete for the big title after they defeated Kosirai 25-18 to retain this year’s regional title.

“We only lost one player, our goalkeeper, who finished Form Four last year. The rest of the team is mature enough after last year’s experience, and we will be going for the top spot,” said Adamba.