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The Nairobian

East Africa Games: Who'll end Kenya's 13-year title drought?

Football

By Oscar Pilipili | Jul 19, 2014

Mercy Mutua, right, of Olympic Nairobi County fight it out with Mumbe Mutina of Mba Football Girls during the Metropolitan Secondary Schools Sports Association, MSSSA, 2013.games at Makindu High School. [Photo: Jonah Onyango]

As the dust settles down after Airtel Rising Stars Secondary School Regional finals, local experts will be closely analyzing the performance of football boys' teams that qualify to represent Kenya in East Africa Games scheduled for Dar es Salaam next month.

All will be collectively trying to reach to a formula that the teams will use to end a 13-year trophy drought by Kenyan boys in the inter-country show.

St Anthony's of Nzoia Region are the only team from outside Uganda to have won the football trophy in the 13-year history of East African Games.

St Mary's Kitende from the outskirts of Kampala have dominated the show, winning the trophy 11 times out of the 12 victories that have been achieved by Ugandans.

Kakamega High team, popularly known as Green Commandos, has participated in the East African Games before, but with minimal impact.

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Commandos coach Brenden Mwinamo cites the advanced level system of education as the key factor favouring Ugandans.

"The issue of form six has been working for Ugandans because the system of academics provides for more mature players compared to Kenyan teams, whose students bow out after form four academics education," he explained.

"Players from St Mary's Kitende are very big and size is fundamental aspect in football," he said.

"Their big size can be intimidating, but as Kenyans, we're not going to give up in our pursuit to bring the trophy to the country," he added.

Mwinamo reckoned that the introduction of the under-19 age category rule was yet to take effect in the games.

"There was the introduction of under-19 age rule to curb on over age players, but member countries are not being sincere as we still see some countries parading 'men' in East African Games," he said.

Asked why Kenyan teams delivers in disciplines like hockey and rugby with players from ordinary level system of academics, Mwinamo said:

"Size does not matter in hockey because the sport is well played with small-bodies athletes. In the case of rugby, you can bring any big boy and develop him into a good player," he argues.

Kenyan teams in both genders have dominated hockey disciplines in East African Games winning all trophies since the sport was introduced in the competition during the 2008 edition in Kigali, Rwanda.

Likewise, Kenyan schools have ruled the roost in rugby 15s disciplines, where they have successfully thwarted attempts by other teams especially Ugandans, to gain entry into the games.

Other local football teams that have tried their luck with success at East African Games are Tononoka, Upper Hill, Lang'ata and Gekomoni.

In contrast, Kenyan girls, have flourished at the East African Games winning several titles. Previous East African Games queens from Kenya are: Archbishop Njenga, Wiyeta and Tartar, who are current champions.

Kenyans are watching with crossed fingers, to see which two boys' teams qualify for 2014 East African Games.