Soya: Nine make the cut ahead of sports awards

Kwathanze High School's Betty Sifuna spike in their match against Vyulya Girls during the Machakos County Term IIB Volleyball finals at Matuu Memorials on Saturday June 3, 2017. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

East Africa champions make Soya awards list

Top performers in the 2018 national and East Africa games battle for the prestigious girls school of the year award.

East Africa and national girls champions Kwanthanze, Kwale Girls, and Trans Nzoia Mixed are front-runners for the 2018 Safaricom Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA) set for January 11 at Fort Jesus, Mombasa. 

The two are among nine schools contesting for the Girls School of the year award having excelled on the local and international scene this season.

They were superb during the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National Term One and Two games in Embu and Eldoret and also at the Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) in Musanze, Rwanda. 

Kwanthanze were impressive as they successfully defended the national and East Africa volleyball titles while Trans Nzoia reclaimed the national hockey trophy before going ahead to win their maiden regional gong. 

Kwale were also unrivalled in girls' football winning their first national title.

They later put up a spirited fight in Rwanda and their efforts paid off when they won the East Africa crown after defeating former regional winners Kawempe Muslim of Uganda 2-1 in the final.

To win the coveted award in January, they must outshine Kaya Tiwi, Moi Girls Kamusinga, St. Anne’s Sega , Tigoi, Soweto Academy and Butere High School.

Kaya Tiwi won national girls' basketball and netball titles.

In Musanze, they finished third and fifth in basketball and netball respectively.

St. Anne’s Sega handball side finished second behind winners Moi Girls Kamusinga at the nationals and took regional bronze at the regional games.

Kamusinga reclaimed the national title they had lost to Sega but failed to achieve the same feat in Rwanda succumbing to a narrow 19-20 to Kibuli Secondary School of Uganda in the final. 

Butere Girls, on the other hand, made a memorable debut at the nationals finishing second behind winners Kaya Tiwi.

They also broke Kaya Tiwi’s unbeaten run they had held since 2016 when they shocked them 75-64 at the group stage.

They also eliminated former giants Tigoi at the Western Region games.

Soweto Academy finished third in volleyball at the nationals and fifth in the East Africa games.