Newly crowned Nyanza regional volleyball champions Gogo have been handed a tough draw ahead of the National Secondary Schools Term Two Games scheduled for July 26 to August 3 in Kakamega.
Gogo, captained
by Titus Ojwang, caused an upset after beating favourites St. Mary’s School Yala
3-2 to lift the Nyanza title in Kisumu.
Gogo,
coached by the principal Tom Achila and assisted by Boaz Nyambalo, are in Pool A alongside Rift Valley powerhouses Cheptil High, Kagonyey from
Central, and North Eastern representatives.
Pool B features former champions Malava Boys from the Western region, regular campaigners Ruthumithu, Mwalubaga, and Gakanga from the Eastern region.
Achila said,
“We are in a tough pool against Cheptil and Kagonye. However, Gogo is determined
to lift the national trophy and become the first team from Homa Bay to play at
the East African Championships.”
Nobody gave
the debutants a chance at the regional championships, and Achila has warned
teams not to underrate them at the nationals. The school is located at the foot
of the scenic Homa Hills, Rachuonyo North Sub County in Homa Bay.
“Teams
underrated us at the regionals because our players looked naïve and tiny, but
here we are, regional champions,” added Achila, who introduced the game at the
school in the year 2021.
“Our rise to
stardom started in 2021 when I was posted to the school. Our development was
disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but we never lost hope. We resumed in 2023, and last year, we lost at the regional semi-finals against Sagegi,” said
Achila.
At the same
time, Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) Western region secretary Quinto
Omusungu has confirmed venues for the national games, with the Bull Ring hosting
rugby Sevens.
Football will be staged at Kakamega High School, Mukumu Boys, and Bukhungu Stadium, which is still undergoing renovations. Kakamega High will also host badminton. Masinde Murilo University of Science and Technology (MMUST) will host volleyball, netball, table tennis, and badminton.
