Schools: Former champions bag bragging rights at games

Upper Hill football team from Nairobi Region celebrate with trophy after beating St Anthony from Trans Nzoia county during Kenya Secondary School Sports Term 2B finals of the Airtel Rising Stars' National Games at Nyeri Primary Moi Complex in Nyeri on Saturday, July 8, 2017. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

After missing in action for three years, Nairobi region champs make it count.

This year's edition of the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association national Term Two B games was undoubtedly one of the most closely contested.

Upper Hill and Wiyeta were crowned boys and girls football champions. In volleyball, Sengera SDA and Kwanthanze emerged tops in the eight-team championships.

However, their victories did not come easy. Three years is what it took Nairobi Region's Upper Hill to return to the national games and they made it count. Finalists St Anthony's Boys and third-place finishers Kakamega High also struggled in past editions.

Upper Hill did not stand out as instant favourites, but that did not stop them from winning the title after a 3-1 victory in post-match penalties against St Anthony's. In truth, goalkeeper Dancan Okinyi was the toast of the day.

Okinyi performed when it mattered most as he gifted the Nairobi Region champions with their second national title. Upper Hill coach Joseph Makokha said adequate training did the trick.

"We prepared very well and even dedicated time to taking penalties, just in case we were expected to go that route," Makokha said.

The trio (Upper Hill, St Anthony's, and Kakamega) now shift their focus to the East Africa games. Kenya's Barding High School won last year's title.

Wiyeta of Rift Valley won their seventh girls' title following their 3-1 win in post-match penalties over Ibinzo of Western Region.

Kakamega's James Mazembe and Wiyeta's Martha Amunyolete were named boys' and girls' Most Valuable Players.