Fierce school derbies that capture raw emotion, intensity and passion

In KSSSA calendar, these matches are spread over football, hockey, rugby, volleyball and netball.

We sample some of those memorable derbies that possess meaning far beyond a simple game:

Kisumu Day v Kisumu Boys (Football/Hockey)

Kisumu Day and Kisumu Boys High are the county’s most successful teams and when they meet either at the county or Nyanza Regional finals, it captures the imagination of fans.

This fixture stands out because Kisumu High students are boarders, while Kisumu Day aren’t.

Meetings between these two sides have at times been clouded in bitter exchanges from their fans. It’s obvious that these two like each other, neither to their fans.

During school games, you are either green (Kisume Day) or red (Kisumu Boys).

The same goes for hockey. However, for most of the 21st century, Kisumu Day has dominated fixtures between the two, winning all the duels for the past 10 years.

Kisumu Boys’ last win was in 2000 (hockey) with the rest being in the 1990s.

Kisumu Day has won eight regional titles between 2001 to date.

In many ways, the re-unions between Kisumu Day and Kisumu Boys perfectly capture the uniqueness and beauty of Kisumu; the colour, the passion and the almost unique situation of being one city straddling two continents.

Kaya Tiwi v Nyakach Girls (Netball)

Three-time netball national champions Kaya Tiwi High School from Kwale County have been the face of Kenya during the East Africa regional games since 2016.

However, for the past three years, the rise of Nyakach Girls High School from Kisumu County has created room for epic matches during the national netball finals.

During the 2019 finals in Kisumu, it took the intervention of the match commissioner to restore order, with Kaya Tiwi holding on to defeat Nyakach Girls 36-30 in a tightly-contested match that was a re-enactment of the previous year’s final.

In 2018, Kaya Tiwi thrashed Nyakach 58-32 in Eldoret to lift their second title after previously wining their maiden title in Embu in a 26-24 win over Obambo Girls.

Kakamega High v St Peter’s Mumias (Rugby/Football)

Western Kenya’s most successful schools Kakamega High School and St Peter’s Mumias Boys High School have produced some of Kenya’s finest football and rugby players in the past two decades.

For instance, Kakamega High produced former Kenya Sevens stars Dennis Mwanja, Allan Makaka and Fabian Orlando, while in football, former Harambee Stars players Simeon Mulama, captain Dennis Oliech, Erick ‘Marcelo’ Ouma honed their skills at Kakamega.

Though placed 32km apart, when the two sides meet during the Rugby Sevens and 15s finals, not only will the grass face the wrath of the players, but also opposing fans will always face off in mouth battles.

Mumias has recently announced themselves as the new Sevens kings, with Kakamega High dominating the 15s. However, Mumias were knocked out of 2020 games as Kakamega advanced after retaining their 15s title.

Friends School Kamusinga v St Anthony’s Kitale (Hockey)

Friends School Kamusinga’s 1-0 triumph over national champions St Anthony’s Kitale to win the 2019 East Africa hockey title showed their passion and ferocity.

St Anthony’s Kitale had just edged out Kamusinga in the national finals but coach Godfrey Muleyi said they were not ready to fall to St Anthony’s Kitale for the second time in one year.

According to Muleyi, this match has always been won on the mental character of the entire team, with the winners being seen as having superior mental strength.

Furthermore, the rivalry is further compounded by players switching camp, such as Hilary Soita and Davis Wekesa moving from St Anthony’s to Kamusinga.

Laiser Hill v Upper Hill (Basketball)

The NBA features some of the most intense rivalries in all sports. Whether they’re conference rivals or championship foes, these matchups have given fans some of the most entertaining battles in basketball. An example is the Golden State Warriors v Cleveland Cavaliers fixture. Enthralling!

Back in Kenya, the same is witnessed in matches involving Equity and KPA; Ulinzi v Thunder.

The trend extends to the secondary school games where a match between eight-time national champions Laiser Hill and three-time champions Upper Hill always sets the bar high.

Even though their last meeting was during the 2017 national finals, which Laiser Hill won 51-43, the matches always charge fans in the stands and sidelines.

Laiser has enjoyed the lion shair when it comes to titles won, winning five against Upper Hill’s three since 2010.

They’ve also won three back-to-back titles from 2017.