SCHOOLS: Onjiko High School ready to jump to victory in Kakamega

Onjiko Boys High school (in blue) in action against Usenge high school.[Washington Onyango,Standard]

Onjiko High School are no strangers in the Kenya Secondary School games basketball arena.

For the past two years, they have taken over the basketball throne, not only in Kisumu County, but also in Nyanza region.

The Ahero town-based outfit announced themselves last year when they defeated Kisumu’s basketball royalty Maseno School before edging out regional heavyweights Agoro Sare, a feat they repeated this year during the Term One games.

Onjiko point guard Alvin Otieno (center) in action against Agoro Sare.[Washington Onyango,Standard]

tHE Nyanza region basketball 5x5 and 3x3 champions Onjiko are keen on reaching the East Africa games set for Rwanda.

Led by their principal Joseph Were and former Maseno coach Gordon Ogutu, who is also the Deputy Principal, Onjiko, who have reduced former giants Maseno and Agoro Sare to whipping boys, believe their standards are higher this time round.

Were, who has been coaching basketball at school level for the last 31 years, said he is looking forward to complete the project he started at Onjiko in 2020 when he joined the Ahero-based school.

Onjiko basketball coach Joseph Were. [Washington Onyango,Standard]

He said it will all come down to the mental strength, playing good defense and utilising their height power.

“Onjiko’s journey to the top is not finished yet. We don’t want it to be known that we did not only conquer Nyanza games but also nationals and East Africa,” said Were.

“Our target at the nation level is to win. We plan to play better than our opponents do. With the experience I have, I believe we can win and get to Rwanda.”

Onjiko will represent Nyanza alongside Agoro Sare. Friends School Kamusinga and Chesamisi will represent Western, while Dagoretti and Langata do duties for Nairobi Region.

Menengai and Tambach will join from Rift Valley, Leukenya and Mbooni do duties for Eastern as Timbila and Chanagande represent Coast.

KSSSA National basketball qualified teams

Nyanza-Onjiko and Agoro Sare

Western-Friends School Kamusinga and Chesamisi

Eastern-Lukenya and Mbooni

Nairobi-Dagoretti and Langata

Coast-Timbila and Chanagande

Central-Thika high and St Mary’s

Rift Valley-Menengai and Tambach