Sinyolo and Butere Girls shine at Butere Open

Sinyolo Girls Judith Opondo (right) in action against Tigoi Girls Jane Nekesa. [Washington Onyango,Standard]

Sinyolo Girls are the 2022 Butere open hockey champions.

The former East African hockey champions won the hockey title after seeing off hosts Butere Girls, Musali Mixed Secondary and Eshitari Secondary School in the games played in round robin format.

The Kisumu County hockey giants kicked off the game with a 5-0 win over Eshitari from Kakamega before humiliating hosts Butere Girls 4-0 at their back yard

The multiple national hockey champions sealed their championship with a narrow 2-0 win over Musali to emerge top.

Sinyolo hockey head coach Peter Wangla said she was impressed with the results but need to train more to get to their past level best.

Speaking to the Standard Sports on Monday, Wangla said the girls are green with majority of players playing for the first time in a competitive break after a two-year darkness that saw two classes phase out with the covid-19 disruptions.

“We were not that good but am happy we got opportunity to train and identify mistakes that we can rectify. The long break really interfered with school games but am happy we are having interschool competitions that are now exposing our players even as we wait for Term One games circular,” said Wangla who replaced former coach Aloice Owino.

In basketball girls, hosts Butere Girls emerged champions after defeating Tigoi Girls in the finals as St. Peter's Mumias edged off Butala Boys to win the men’s category.

Butere Girls basketball coach Chirs Odeke was happy with the performance of her team saying they will continue to train hard.

“It’s a surprise performance for the girls who have not played for a long time. I am happy with how we played and all we can now do is continue working hard,” said Odeke.

Butere Girls also came out on top in Volleyball girls after defeating Nyakongo Girls and Mwira Mixed Secondary as Bukolwe Mixed won the men’s.

Bushiangala TTI won the girls netball ahead of Barchando Girls and St. Cecilia Misikhu as Moi Girls Sindo beat Eshinamwenyuli Secondary, Bishop Sulumeti and Rangala Girls to the handball girls title.

Butere picked their third title in the tournament after beating Wiyeta Girls to win football.

Tournament director Chite Ndugu said they hosted the tournament with a goal of awakening the talents of the students who have had no competitive sports games since Covid-19 hit in 2020.

“Due to the collapse of games because of Covid-19, we decided to come up with this tournament in order to nurture talent,” said Ndugu.

 “The turn up was good as most school and clubs confirmed their participation. We are going to be having this tournament annually and we expect come next year we shall have many sponsors and teams turning up.”

2022 Butere Open tournament results

Handball girls-Moi Girls Sindo

Handball Boys-Butere legends

Netball-Bushiangala TTI

Volleyball Girls-Butere girls

Volleyball Boys-Bukolwe mixed

Hockey girls-Sinyolo Girls

Basketball girls-Butere girls

Basketball Boys-St. Peter's Mumias

Football girls- Butere Girls