SCHOOLS: Ng'iya Girls ready to leave a mark at national games in Kakamega

Ng'iya Gilrs basketball team.[Washington Onyango,Standard]

Renowned English poet and writer William Shakespeare did not lie when he said, “O, it is excellent to have a giant's strength; but it is tyrannous to use it like a giant.”

For Ng’iya Girls, it is a relief as a forgotten giant from Siaya County rises once again from its ruins.

After 21 years in the cold, Ng'iya Girls' basketball team qualified for the national games for the first time since 2002.

Ng'iya Girls Principal Hellen Juma.[Washington Onyango,Standard]

For a school that only grabbed headlines for academic excellence, it has been an upward journey for Ng'iya this year since former Sinyolo Girls principal Hellen Juma joined the school in January.

Juma, who is credited with helping Sinyolo Girls dominate hockey not only in Kenya but also in East Africa, helped Ng'iya Girls basketball 5x5 and hockey teams reach the regional level during the Term One games and she has now taken 3x3 basketball team to nationals in Term Two games.

Ng'iya Girls Principal Hellen Juma.[Washington Onyango,Standard]

Speaking to Standard Sports, Juma said she thrives in both sports and academics and cannot wait to see her girls shine their way to East Africa.

“It’s interesting how the girls, who have not been active in sports for the past years, have taken the mantle and are playing with passion. I know they love to read a lot but I love the fact that they also listened to me when I told them that it is healthy for them to play," said Juma.

“This is just the beginning for Ng'iya in sports. A fresh start that I expect will be taken a notch higher next year where we want to reach nationals both in Term One and Two games.”

Ng'iya Girls students during a past even.[Washington Onyango,Standard]

Ng'iya Girls basketball coach Naftali Ambala said they are ready for nationals despite qualifying as Nyanza region runner-up.

“It doesn’t matter how we qualified because the goal for us this term was to play better than we did last term. It is a milestone and we want to raise the sailing even higher by getting into the finals,” said Ambala.

Ng'iya Girls qualified alongside regional champions Ototo Mixed from Homa Bay.

The draw for the basketball 3x3 will be done next week on Monday after a meeting by the respective team managers at Kakamega High School.

The 2023 KSSSA National Term Two games will kick off next week on Tuesday.

Team that have qualified for national finals

Nyanza-Ototo and Ng’iya Girls

Western-Tigoi Girls and Bunyore

Nairobi-Olympic and Parklands

Coast-Kaya Tiwi and Mitangani

Rift Valley-Nasokol and St Brigids Kiminini

Eastern-Tala and Mbitini

Central-Magomano and Karima

(North Eastern Region games are currently going on)