Bigwigs clash in Kisumu

Morgan Nyongesa of Friends School Kamusinga in action against Ntare School (Uganda) during their East Africa Secondary School Games hockey match at Eldoret Polytechnics, Uasin Gishu County on August 30, 2016. [PHOTO: DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD]

East Africa hockey giants Kamusinga High School, Nyanza region basketball champs Agoro Sare High School and Vihiga hockey and former East Africa champions Tigoi Girls will defend their titles when the 2020 Biro Lich High Schools tournament begins at Jomo Kenyatta Sports grounds in Kisumu today.

Friends School Kamusinga, who are the 2019 Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association boy’s hockey champions, edged out Kisumu Day in the hockey final during last year’s edition.

Agoro Sare and Tigoi were crowned men’s and women’s basketball winners in last year’s edition after winning the finals against Ambira Boys and Barchando Girls from Siaya.

Agoro Sare High School's Christian Obiero (left) and Joseph Murage of Maseno School during Nyanza Region Term 1 game at Homa Bay High School on Wednesday, March 20, 2019. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

This year’s games will see schools battle it out in hockey, basketball, and handball as they seek to nurture talents in the region as well as preparing schools for the Kenya Secondary School Term One games.

The defending champions will battle it out with over 60 schools from Nyanza and Western regions and Kamusinga coach Godfrey Muleyi has fired warning shots to title contenders.

“We have trained well and are ready for the tournament. Our main objective is to retain our titles as we prepare for the county, regional and national secondary school games,” Muleyi said.

Agoro Sare will be defending basketball and handball titles and coach Benson Ochieng is confident of leading his boys to victory.

Mary Zachakira of Barichando High School in action as her team played against Tigoi Girls High School players in one of the opening girls’ basketball matches.[PHOTO BY GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD].

 “The boys are ready and raring to go on. We want to use these games to prepare for the county Term One school games,” he said.

Vihiga County’s basketball and hockey champions Tigoi Girls are also optimistic about winning the title.

“We gained more experience from the nationals last year so our opponents should expect better basketball from us this year. We will raise the bar too high,” Ken Egovwa, the Tigoi coach said.