Hunt for bragging rights on as East Africa games begin in Huye

Kesogon and Kwanthanze volleyball players in action during last week's KSSSA games at Kakamega High School. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

The 2023 Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) games begin on Saturday in Huye, Rwanda.

The Kenyan boys and girls will battle it out with their hosts, Uganda and Tanzania in a bid to recapture the overall title they last won in 2018 when Rwanda hosted the games in Musanze.

Team Kenya arrived in Rwanda on Thursday and had a chance to acclimatize to the environment yesterday ahead of today’s action.

Girls volleyball champions Kwanthanze are keen to bounce back from their national final loss to Kesogon which saw them relinquish their title when they take on perennial rivals GS St. Aloys in Group B.

The Kenyan girls will be out for a perfect start as they seek to win their fifth title in a row and a seventh overall. St Aloys on the other hand will be on a mission to impress home crowds and also avenge their losses to the African champions who have dominated their previous encounters.

Kwanthanze coach Justine Kigwari said that though his girls are determined to retain their title, they will only focus on one match at a time. 

“Just like every other team in the competition we want the trophy, the only difference is that all our competitors want to dethrone us. We will remain focused, play a match at a time and hopefully we will retain our title,” Kigwari said.  

Kenya’s other representatives in the girls’ contest Soweto and St Martha Mwitoti will also be in action today. Mwitoti will be hoping for a dream debut when they take on Nasuli Secondary School from Tanzania in Group A while regulars Soweto play Uganda’s Seroma Christian. National champions Kesogon who will be looking to improve on last year’s finish and dethrone Kwanzanthe will begin their campaign tomorrow against Mwitoti.

National boys’ volleyball champions Ruthimitu Mixed will lead Andersen, Namwela and Tumaini as they seek to firm grip on the title won last year by Cheptil.

However, Ruthimitu and Namwela who will have a rest day today will count on Andersen and Tumaini to make Kenyans intentions to retain the title known. Andersen who finished second at the national games will play 2019 champions Standard High School Zzana whereas Tumaini will tackle Namugongo Secondary. Standard High popularly known as Stahiza and Namugongo are from Uganda.  

In football, Dagoretti High School will be welcomed back to the East Africa stage by their hosts Ecose Musambira in the only match of the day. The Kenyan boys will be looking to improve on their 2019 fourth place finish. They are in Group B alongside record title holders St Mary’s Kitende and defending champions Kibuli Secondary School from Uganda and Tanzania’s Kiwira Coal Mine.

Dagoretti coach Joseph Makokha exuded confidence saying that his charges were keen to make their return to the games count.

“The boys are determined to give their best because now it's not just about our school but they are representing the entire nation. The team is in high spirits and are looking forward to their opening match,” Makokha said.

He added that returning to the games after missing last year’s contest has inspired them and they will bring their A game to the championship.

Former East Africa holders and newly crowned national champions St Anthony’s Kitale are in Group A where they will face off with Ugandan sides St Henry’s College Kitovu and Amus College as well as Tanzania’s Kalangalala, Rwanda’s CGFK and compatriots Shanderema.

In handball former national and East Africa girls’ champions Moi Girls Kamusinga (MGK) will lock horns with bitter rivals Kibuli from Uganda in Group A.

Kamusinga, who lost their national title in a painful 15-16 defeat to St Joseph’s Kitale, are hoping to redeem themselves and reclaim the title they last won in 2019.

National champions St Joseph’s Kitale will take on Rwanda’s Kiziguro Secondary School while St Joseph’s Miranga will face off with Uganda’s Gombe Secondary School tomorrow. Mbooni Boys will play Bombo Army from Uganda in their opening Group A match. Hospital Hill and Manyatta will be in action on Sunday.