Road to regional glory begins as National School Games kick off in Kakamega

Fans watch Shanderema face Agoro Sare during National School Games at Bukhungu Stadium, Kakamega, on August 12, 2023. [Stafford Ondego, Standard] After surviving elimination at lower levels of competition, regional champions will today begin their quest for glory as the 2025 Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National Term Two games kick off in Kakamega. At stake are bragging rights for victors and tickets to this year's Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) games, to be staged from August 14 to 22 at the same venue. With the country hosting the annual showpiece, it is a lucky year for semi-finalists since they will all book their berths for the regional contest. Mumias Sports Complex will host the opening ceremony as well as the boys' football Group A match, pitting homeboys Musingu High School against Moi High School Mbiruri from Eastern. Other venues are St Ignatius Mukumu Boys, Kakamega High, and Bull Ring Stadium. This year's showdown will see most champions from last year's games battle to defend their titles, national returnees seek to restore their lost glory, while debutants will be out to prove that though new to the big stage, they are no pushovers. The Highway Secondary School from Nairobi face off with St Joseph's High School Kitale from Rift Valley in their opening Group B match. The city boys will be hoping to launch their boys' football title defence campaign with a victory against St Joseph's, who they edged out 1-0 during last year's opener at Gusii Stadium. The Rift Valley champions, on the other hand, will be seeking to exact revenge on Highway even as they look to dethrone them. Another Group B encounter will see Serani Secondary School from Coast take on Kirangari Secondary School from Central. Serani, who return to the games after a one-year absence, will be hoping for a good start to enhance their chances of qualifying for the East Africa games. However, they face an uphill task against Kirangari, who have been consistent and are making their third straight appearance. Kirangari have also shown steady progress since making their national debut in 2023, where they finished sixth. Last year, they improved, reaching the semis, though they lost 2-1 to Highway and 6-0 to St Joseph's in the third-place play-offs to finish fourth. Kirangari coach Ramoses Kimanthi said his charges are motivated by the fact that there is an additional slot to the East Africa games. "We want to play at the East Africa games. We have to be at our best and maintain a top-four finish. We are in a tough pool, but my boys are motivated and ready for the challenge," Kimanthi said. His Serani equal, Isaac Wandera, said they will be out for a good start because it will set them on the path to achieving their objectives. "We have to start well because this is the only way we can remain on course to achieving our main objective, which is to qualify for East Africa. Just like every team in any competition, we also want the ultimate prize," Wandera said. In Group A, Musingu, who are looking to end their four-decade trophy drought, will usher newcomers Moi High School Mbiruri to the national stage. Nyanza champions Agai Mixed Secondary School will face off with North Eastern's Garissa High in the other encounter. Musingu will also be looking to improve on last year's second-place finish and bag the trophy that has eluded them for 40 years. They last won the national trophy in 1984, lost it to Homa Bay High School in 1985, and have never recaptured it. Coached by seasoned tactician Brendan Mwinamo, who led Kakamega High School to several national titles, Musingu will be looking to ensure that the trophy remains in Western. "We have been preparing well since returning from Mbale, Uganda last year because our aim is, and has always been, to win the national title. We are playing at home and will settle for nothing less than the trophy, which our supporters believe must remain in Western," Mwinamo said. In the girls' football title chase, holders Butere Girls High School will lock horns with Dr Charles from Eastern in their opening Group A match. The Red Commandos are looking to bag their fourth national gong and third in a row. The star-studded side will be captained by Junior Starlets captain Halima Imbachi, who led the side last year to the national title and East Africa silver medal. Newbies Ruiru Girls from Central will tackle Rift Valley's Nasokol Girls High School in the second Group A match. In Group B, Kobala Mixed Secondary School from Nyanza will be seeking to announce their return to the nationals with a victory against home girls Madira, who also missed last year's games. National regulars Dagoretti Mixed from Nairobi will entertain rookies Mwanambeyu Girls High School from Coast in their opening tie. Dagoretti are chasing their maiden title. In volleyball, boys' defending champions Cheptil High School from Rift Valley will play Furaha Secondary School from North Eastern in their opening Group A match. The second pool match will be a battle of debutants as Gogo Mixed Secondary School from Nyanza tackle Kambaa Secondary School from Central. Former national and East Africa champions Malava Boys High School, who return to the nationals after many years in the cold, will launch their title quest in Group B against Eastern's Gankanga Secondary School. Nairobi's Ruthimitu Secondary School will clash with Coast's Mwaluphamba Secondary School in the other tie. In the girls' contest, defending champions Kwanthanze Secondary School from Eastern will take on Nyanza's Nyakongo in their opening Group A match. Kwanthanze, who lost their East Africa gong to Kesogon, will be out to retain the national trophy and enhance their chances of reclaiming the East Africa trophy. Western Region's Bishop Sulumeti, who return to the national games for the first time since 2019, will entertain North Eastern's Eldas Girls Secondary School. Reigning East Africa champions Kesogon will battle it out with rivals Soweto Academy from Nairobi, while Kinale Secondary School from Central will play Coast's Moi Forces Academy in Group A. Kesogon are looking to reclaim the title they lost to Kwanthanze last year. Netball champions Oyugi Ogango from Nyanza launch their title defence campaign in Group B against Kinale. The second Group B duel will see St Monica Bukokholo from Western play Nairobi's St Dorcas Educational Centre. The two sides return to the nationals, having missed last year's games held in Kisii. Former national champions Kaya Tiwi from Coast will play North Eastern's Hon DM Amin in their opening Group A match. Rift Valley champions St Joseph's Girls High School Kitale will take on Eastern's Kajiampau in the other Group A match. Friends Boys Secondary School Bwake and St Joseph's Kitale will be seeking to defend their rugby 7s titles.

Road to regional glory begins as National School Games kick off in Kakamega

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Road to regional glory begins as National School Games kick off in Kakamega

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