Musingu seek redemption at East Africa games

Highway Secondary School football player vies for the ball against Musingu Boys player during their match at Gusii Stadium. [File, Standard] National boys' football silver medallists Musingu High School are imploring the gods of football to smile at them as they look to shine at this year's Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) games that begin on Thursday in Kakamega. The Scorpions are among 14 teams that will be battling for the trophy that has eluded Kenyans for years. Having failed to reclaim the national gong that they last won in 1984, these games are the last chance they have of winning a major trophy. Musingu coach Brendan Mwinamo said they are well prepared for the challenge and will capitalise on home advantage. "We are playing at home and therefore, have many resources at our disposal and thousands of fans rallying behind us. Our first goal is to qualify for the semi-finals," said Mwinamo. "We also have huge support from government and the school and the boys are ready to play their hearts out and ensure that the trophy remains in Kenya," added Mwinamo. Musingu, who finished third last year after beating Bukedea Comprehensive 3-2 in the play-offs match, are in Group A where they play Tanzania's Kizuka Secondary School in their opening duel. "With seven teams in a pool and only two advancing to the play-offs, there is no room for mistakes for a slight slipup could prove costly," said Mwinamo. They will also be up against defending champions Amus College as well as Buddo Secondary School from Uganda. The Scorpions played to a 2-2 draw during their last year's group match played in Mbale, Uganda. The pool also has Highway Secondary School and Butere Boys High School who will all be battling for semi-finals slots against their guests. CGFK Kicukiro of Rwanda complete the Group A lineup. "We are in a pool that also has champions Amus College and we expect them to come out strongly because they want to defend their title. We don't also expect to have it easy with our opponents from Tanzania and Rwanda hence we just have to be at our best," Mwinamo added. Newly crowned national champions St Joseph's High School Kitale and Agai Mixed Secondary School are in Group B. They face an uphill task going against record titleholders St Mary's Kitende and Bukedea Comprehensive from Uganda. EPM Mpanda from Burundi Benjamin Mkapa Secondary School from Tanzania and Rwanda's APE Rugunga from Rwanda will also be chasing the two last four slots in the pool. St Joseph's will be looking to improve on last year's fifth-place finish, while Agai and Butere will be out to make remarkable first appearances. Highway Secondary School, who bagged silver on their East Africa debut in 2022, will be hoping to be third time lucky. Kenya will be looking to reclaim the title from the Ugandans who have dominated boys' football since the inception of the games. Only two Kenyan schools have won the title since 2002 with St Anthony's winning the inaugural trophy. Barding Boys High School won the 2016 title when the country hosted the games in Eldoret, but lost it St Mary's Kitende in 2017. Since then, Kenya's best performance has been Highway's 2022 second-place finish.

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