After ending Maseno School’s dominance of the Nyanza basketball scene, ambitious Onjiko Boys are now targeting the regional title.
Onjiko upset Maseno School 69-41 to lift the Kisumu County championship on Sunday at Maseno School.
On Monday, Onjiko principal Joseph Were, who doubles up as the head coach, said he is now going for the Nyanza regional title when the games get underway on Wednesday at Asumbi Teachers Training College in Homa Bay.
“I’m happy and proud of my boys after dethroning Maseno. This is a team I have built from scratch in the last two years. My focus now is the Nyanza title. We want to dominate basketball in Nyanza,” said a buoyant Were.
Were has previously coached Nang’ina Girls, Friends School Kamusinga and Sigalame Boys up to national and East African level.
“I have been very consistent in my coaching career which spans more than 20 years. All the teams I have coached have reached nationals and I want to replicate the same with Onjiko Boys. The boys are determined to qualify for the nationals,” he added.
Little-known Katolo narrowly beat Sinyolo Girls 50-46 to win the girls' basketball title. Maseno will, however, represent Kisumu in the 3x3 basketball format which was introduced in schools this year.
Maseno defeated Onjiko 20-9 with Nyakach winning the girls' title after beating Katolo 9-5. Maseno retained the rugby Sevens title after an emphatic 21-0 win over Thurdibuoro.
In hockey, Kisumu Day and Sinyolo Girls retained their titles. Kisumu Day beat Onjiko 2-1 to retain the boys' title while Sinyolo, the five-time East Africa champions, walloped Koru Girls 10-1. Kisumu Day also retained the soccer title after a 4-0 win over Kasagam while Nyakach Girls drubbed Magadi 7-0 to retain the girl’s title.
Enjoying the support of home fans, Maseno School defeated Katolo 23-20 to be crowned the boys' handball champions with minnows Guu taking the girls' crown after a 17-8 win over Masogo.
Nyakach Girls retained the netball and volleyball titles. Nyakach humbled Kajulu 64-20 to win the netball title and saw off Omuya by straight sets to settle for the volleyball crown. St Joseph’s defeated Nyabondo 3-1 to win the boys' title.
In Homa Bay, Agoro Sare High School dominated the championships. They bagged the soccer, basketball, and rugby Sevens titles.
Other teams that will represent Homa Bay are Kobala (netball and soccer), Ototo (girls' basketball), Anding’o (girls' hockey), Ringa Boys (boys' hockey), Nyamanga (boys' handball) and Miranga (handball girls).
