Metropolitan wins Milo title

By REBECCA GICHANA

An estimated 8,000 strong crowd turned up to witness the finals of the Milo Primary Schools girls’ finals held at Kanduyi Stadium, Bungoma County where Metropolitan Region beat Nzoia Region 3-0 in an entertaining match last weekend.

In the boys’ finals, Lake Region overpowered hosts Nzoia Region 4-0 to take home the boys’ football title in a one-sided final match as the curtains came down in this year’s edition of the Milo Kenya Primary School Ball Games.

In other matches, Nzoia overcome Lake Region 18-11 to win the boys netball title, while Lake Region sealed the fourth title in a row when they overcame Nakuru 21-5 to win the girls netball contest. In handball, Nzoia defeated Nakuru 23-15 to lift the boys’ crown. The girls’ team edged Metropolitan 15-13 to win the handball title.

Volleyball provided the only consolation for Nakuru Region, which defeated Nzoia in three straight sets of 25-18, 25-6, 25-23 to win the girls crown. The boys’ team also clinched the title by beating Nzoia 3-1.

The four-day event, staged at St Mary’s Kibabi High School, Cardinal Otunga Girls’ High School and Kanduyi Stadium, brought together a total of 1,400 boys and girls from across the 47 counties to compete in the games’ finals. Schools were clustered into teams from various regions, namely, Metropolitan (formerly Nairobi Province), Lake (Nyanza), Nakuru (Rift Valley), Mombasa (Coast), Aberdares (Central), Nzoia (Western), Garissa (North Eastern) and Northern (Eastern).

Nestlé Kenya, through its leading Milo brand, sponsored this year’s Kenya Primary School ball games to the tune ofSh5 million. The company also committed to extend its partnership with the Ministry of Education towards providing support for the primary school games with the focus being on football.

“After beating defending champions, Mombasa Region, in the semi-finals 2-1, our teacher told us we would win the girls’ title and we believed him. I am excited to have scored two goals in the final that enabled my team to win the girls’ football title,” said Stella Shanyiza, who scored a double to help Metropolitan beat hosts Nzoia 3-0 to lift the girls Milo football title.

Speaking during the closing ceremony of the tournament, Managing Director, Nestlé Kenya, Svetlana Obruchkova said:  “As a company, we believe that sport plays a crucial part in setting the foundation for a child’s future. It is through participating in sports that children learn how to persevere, find courage, overcome challenges, engage in team work and believe in one-self.”

Apart from the local sports sponsorship, Nestlé has sponsored the Milo African Primary Schools Championships, including the 2010 edition held in South Africa, and the 2012 edition held in Ghana.  For both editions, winning teams from Kenya participated in the championships.