Kimilili ready to fire again: The eight-time national champions seek to return to winning ways

Former handball champions on a mission to reclaim lost glory.

After spending a year in the cold, secondary schools boys' handball giants, St Luke's Kimilili are itching to reclaim their lost glory.

The eight-time national and two-time East Africa champions will be seeking to return to the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association national games after missing the 2017 championships.

They will launch their quest for a ticket to this year's national Term One Games set for next month in Embu at the Western Region games that begin on Wednesday at Friends School Kamusinga.

Kimilili were last year disqualified from the Western Region games for an irregularity.

However, they were later cleared after investigations proved their innocence, but it was too late for them to salvage anything after St Ignatius Mukumu were crowned champions.

At the nationals, Mukumu did not disappoint and ensured that the title remained in Western Region.

Kimilili coach Gerald Juma said their first objective this year is to reclaim their lost glory then build from there.

"We want our glory back and that is what matters to the boys. They never gave up and they have been training hard for this year's contest," Juma said.

Juma will rely on Douglas Wekesa, Duncan Kimutai, Chrisostim Mulupi, Allan Wafula, Jimmy Wenani and Fresnel Khisa, who are all yearning to restore their school's honour.

Juma added that his current squad is determined to follow in the footsteps of their predecessors who dominated the country with much ease.

They desire to achieve the feat of the 2016 squad. Led by captain Isaac Kololi, the side won both the national and East Africa titles. Kololi's prowess in the sport saw many clubs (local and from East Africa) seek his services. He joined the Kenya Defence Forces side.

Meanwhile, the fallen queens schools handball, Moi Girls Kamusinga, will also be out to salvage their pride.

Last year, Kamusinga relinquished both their national and East Africa crowns finishing second behind St Anne's Sega and Kibuli Secondary Schools of Uganda respectively.

Even so, with a slogan to keep reminding them of their objective, the 2016 national and East Africa champions mean business, as coach Godfrey Simiyu revealed.

"Our main objective is to reclaim our national and East Africa titles and we believe the final whistle slogan is what guides us," said Simiyu.

The two sides will be up against teams from Kakamega, Vihiga and Busia.