Mangu School swimming coach Ejidio Theuri is confident his charges will be a force to reckon with come the national championships in Machakos next month.
Mangu's charges clinched the title of overall winners in the boys' category at the Central Region Secondary Schools Sports Association (CRSSSA) swimming championship over the weekend.
He was bullish about his team chances of going toe to toe with the swimmers from Coast and Nairobi.
"Coast swimmers especially will be the ones to beat. I believe we can compete favourably with the swimmers from Nairobi and the rest of the country," Theuri added.
Theuri said they will step up their preparations for the next two weeks to be in peak condition by the time the national games start in Machakos.
“Minimum we will have two hours of training for the next fortnight to get the swimmers in good shape and be competitive come the national championship. We will be going for a swimming camp in Kirinyaga as part of their preparations” he said.
He said the target for the swimmers was to qualify for the East Africa Games, which are scheduled for Uganda in August.
“As a team we have never had a chance to qualify for the East Africa games and this event presents a perfect opportunity for the swimmers to do so."
"Theuri's charges include Samuel Maina, Kaunda Mumo, Dwen Kinguri, Mbogo Chiuri, Maina Chuchu and Alph Gachiri who have qualified for the games.
Alliance Girls bagged the girls category.
The championship brought together the crème de la crème of central region's swimming schools, among them prestigious institutions such as Alliance, Nyeri High, Kahuhia Girls, Kianyaga, Muranga High, Pioneer School, and Nova Pioneer Tatu City.
Mangu High, Juja Prep and Senior School, Mpesa Foundation Academy, Mt. Kenya Academy, Nyahururu High, Nyahururu Elite School, Leshao Boys also participated, among others.
Swimming in Central Kenya region has grown in leaps and bounds midst of the much-anticipated inauguration of a half-Olympic-sized swimming pool at Kianyaga High School, Kirinyaga slated for Wednesday.
