Kamusinga Girls seek to retain national crown: Handball Girls champions hopeful of stamping authority

Jecinta Leli of Moi Girls Kamusinga (kenya) unleashes an attack against Apega School of Rwanga during their East Afrca Secondary School Games football match at Eldoret Sports Club, Uasin Gishu County on August 31, 2016.[PHOTO:DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD]

National queens earned ticket to nationals after beating Mukumu.

Moi Girls Kamusinga will be seeking to extend their reign at the helm of girls secondary schools handball.

The reigning champions are hopeful of staging a successful title defence at this year’s Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association National Term Two A games that begin on Tuesday at Shimo La Tewa School, Mombasa.

Kamusinga beat perennial rivals Mukumu Girls 24-12 to win the Western region trophy hence earning the ticket to proceed to the nationals.

The four-time national champions will? be in Mombasa in a quest to bag their fifth national gong. However, they will face tough competition from former holders St Francis Cheptarit of Rift Valley as well as Nairobi’s New Jogoo Road and regulars St Ann’s Sega of Nyanza who they beat in the 2015 and 2016 national finals.

Kamusinga who are also the current East Africa champions are in Group A together with Cheptarit, Eastern and North Eastern champions Utithi and Wajir Girls.

Sega are favourites to advance to the knockout stage in Group B where they will battle city girls New Jogoo Road, Voi White House representing the host region and Kahuho of Central.

Kamusinga coach Godfrey Simiyu said their main objective is to defend both the national and East Africa games. “Our preparations to defend our titles began as soon as were won the regional title in Eldoret last year. We have worked very hard,” said Simiyu. 

His New Jogoo Road counterpart John Wante on the other hand is targeting a place in the final which will earn him a ticket to the regional extravaganza.

“My girls are in good form compared to last year because they have trained well. We want to play in the finals and that is what we are all focused on achieving,” Wante said.

New champions will be crowned in the boys' contest after last years winners St Luke’s Kimilili were disqualified during the Western Region games.

Mukumu Boys who beat Kolanya 27-18 will shoulder the responsibility of ensuring the national crown returns to Western.