Stiff competition is expected as schools battle for regional slots in Nyanza’s five counties starting Wednesday.
Term One Games will feature athletic, basketball 5 on 5, hockey, cross country, handball, rugby 15s, and swimming.
The teams will be fighting for slots at the regionals scheduled for Kisumu School from March 19-23.
In Kisumu, Term One Games will be staged at Kisumu School, Kisumu Day, and Kisumu Girls while Cardinal Otunga High School, Mosocho will host the Kisii county event.
The Homa Bay championships will be held at Mawego Technical and in Migori, the county games will be held at St Joseph’s Rapogi. St Kizito Nyansiongo will be the venue for the Nyamira county games.
In Kisumu, stiff competition is expected in boys’ hockey, where regional champions Maseno School and former champions Kisumu Day will lock horns.
Kisumu Day coach Booker Odhiambo vowed to reclaim his titles. “I have sharpened my attacking machine which was blunt last year. I want to assure you that I will take the regional and county trophies,” said a confident Odhiambo.
Maseno and Kisumu Day are in Pool ‘A’ alongside Onjiko, according to the draws released by Kenya SecondarySchools Sports Association (KSSSA) Kisumu County, secretary George Osura.
In Pool ‘B, hosts Kisumu School, Otieno Oyoo and Bar Korumba will battle it out while Pool ‘C’ will pit Nyabondo against Chemelil Academy and Ngere.
In the girls' category, former regional champions Siyolo Girls will start their title defense in Pool ‘A’ against Kisumu Girls and St Barnabas while in Pool B, Chemelil Academy, Rae Girls and Huma will battle it out. Pool ‘C’ has Asol, Koru Girls and Ahero Girls.
In boys’ basketball, regional champions Onjiko and former national champions Maseno School will battle face-off for the county title. During the Eliud Owalo Foundation schools tournament, the two schools met twice— at preliminary and semi-final levels. On both occasions, Onjiko won by one basket.
They will collide again in Pool ‘A’ which also features Kisumu School and Kasagam. Pool ‘B’ has Ngere, Lions School and Katolo while Chemelil Academy, Otieno Oyoo and Nyabondo will battle it out in Pool ‘C’.
In the girls' category, Nyakach start as favourites in Pool ]A, where they will battle Kisumu, Aloo Gumbi and Katolo. St Barnabas, St Theresas Kisumu and Rae Girls will face off in Pool ‘B’ while Pool ‘C’ will pit Sinyolo against Orem and Koru.
In rugby 15’s former regional champions, Maseno School will be seeking to retain their county title. They have been handed an easy draw against Kisumu Day, Onjiko Boys and Otieno Oyoo in Pool ‘A’ while Pool B will feature Nyabondo, Ngere, Kisumu Boys and Bar Korumba.
