Soweto aim to be last team standing

Soweto Academy'sJosphine Nekesa (1) attacks Lugulu Girls High School during their East Afrca Secondary School Games volleyball match at Eldoret Polytechnics, Uasin Gishu County on September 1, 2016.[PHOTO:DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD]

Few teams thrive in their debut season in top-flight championships.

Most schools do not go beyond the group stages; some are eliminated in the knockout stages while a few parade for the finals.

Soweto Academy are among the few. On their debut at the secondary schools national Term Two B Games last year, they played in the girls’ volleyball final but lost to AIC Kosirai.

Yes, they expected more, given that they had, against all odds, made it to the final. But a silver medal was good enough given the circumstances and now they are back to claim what they believe belongs to them - the gold medal.

When this year’s games begin in Nyeri next week, Soweto will no doubt be among the favourites. They boast talent and skills, and with the experience from last year’s outing, they are determined to go all the way.

They also won silver in last year’s East Africa school games.

Exuding confidence, Soweto coach Johnstone Makabwa said his charges were ready for a better performance.

“This being our second appearance, we are better than we were last year. We are more composed and do not have any stage fright. We are least concerned about what to expect,” Makabwa said.

He added that having qualified for last year’s national and regional finals, they were now seeking a repeat performance.

“We gave a good account of ourselves last year and want to maintain the same standards, and if possible, make it even better by winning the trophy.”

Soweto had a good run last year when they eliminated two-time national and East Africa champions Kwanthanze in the Metropolitan Region. It was a rare feat by the minnows, who qualified for their first national slot.

At the nationals and the East Africa games, they lost only to AIC Kosirai in both finals. They defeated Kosirai in the preliminaries before losing in a five-set finals thriller.

Makabwa said this year’s challenge would be the fiercest because the level of girls’ volleyball had gone up.

“Our schoolgirls are playing quality volleyball and I’m proud to say that we (Soweto) are among those that have set high standards.”

He singled out former nationals Lugulu of Western, Kwanthanze and Cheptil as favourites in this year’s championships.

They are in Group A together with Rift Valley champions Cheptil, debutants Passenga of Central and Coast champions St John’s Kaloleni.

Kwanthanze and Lugulu are in Group B, same as Nyanza’s St Anne’s Sega and a North Eastern representative.