Who will earn East Africa tickets?

Kevin Muyeleze of Namwela from Bugoma (white) against Hilary Kiprono and Salim Kibiwot of Langa'ta school from Nairobi during the Kenya Secondary Schools Association volleyball term two national ball games in Kisumu on August 1st 2019. Langat won 3 sets to 1. [Collins Oduor, Standard]

Semi-finalists at Secondary Schools National Term Two games will today put their best foot forward as they seek to seal slots at the 2019 East Africa showpiece.

Hearts will be broken, tears of joy, as well as tears of sorrow, will be shed as winners of the day celebrate securing their tickets to the biggest schools sports event in the region. With only two tickets available in boys volleyball, under 19 football and netball, contestants will have to be at their best lest they miss a place at this year's party set for Arusha, Tanzania.

However, losers in girls volleyball and under 19 football semis will have a second chance to qualify in tomorrow's third-place play-offs. Kenya will field three teams in the two disciplines as they seek to defend the trophies won by Kwanthanze and Kwale Girls last year in Musanze, Rwanda.

Volleyball champions Kwanthanze from Eastern will face off with old foes Soweto Academy from Nairobi while Rift Valley's Cheptil will tackle Central's Passenga in girls semis. Kwanthanze and Cheptil who are the only sides yet to test defeat will be looking to maintain their unbeaten run.

Yesterday, Kwanthanze who are yet to drop a set beat Passenga 25-11, 25-11 and 25-15 to finish on top of Group B with nine points and book a date with Soweto who finished second in Group A after dismissing St Anne's Sega 3-0(25-20, 25-11 and 26-24.

Cheptil topped Group A with nine points following their 3-1 (25-21, 24-26, 25-20, 25-22 win over Western's Bishop Sulumeti. Kwanthanze captain Emmaculate Nekesa said they will be looking to qualify for the East Africa games. "Winning against Soweto is not easy so we have to give our best. We played them in last year's final and we hope to beat them this year too," Nekesa said.

Her Soweto equal Penina Barasa said they were ready and will turn up to complete the job. "We are ready to rise to the occasion and win. We lost to them (Kwanthanze) in last year's final but we are determined to carry the day."

In the boys' contest, rookies Namwela will have homeboys Mogonga PAG to reckon with as they seek to impress on their maiden appearance. Namwela who are under pressure to fit in the shoes of giants Malava who did not make it this year suffered their first loss to city boys Langata in their last Group B match.

Langata who will take on debutants Lelmokwo from Rift Valley in the second semis beat Namwela 3-1(25-23, 21-25, 23-25, 23-25) to inch closer to the title. Last year's third-place finishers Mogonga beat Shimoni from Coast in straight sets of 25-23, 25-16 and 25-21 to top Group A with six points.

Semis fixtures

Football under 19

Boys

Dagoretti High v Olbolosat

St Anthony's v Ebwali

Girls

Nyakach v Archbishop Njenga

Itigo v Njabini

Volleyball

Boys

Mogonga PAG v Namwela

Langata v Lelmokwo

Girls

Kwanthanze v Soweto

Cheptil v Passenga

Netball

Kaya Tiwi v Bukokholo

Nyakach v Karuri