Kenyan teams shift their focus on FEASSA games in Kakamega

Boys' volleyball action between Malava (white) and Cheptil at Masinde Murilo University/ Angwenyi Gichana

Kenyan teams have shifted their focus to the Federation of East African Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) extravaganza, taking place from August 14 to 24  in Kakamega.

The annual event will feature schools from hosts Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi, while DR Congo and South Sudan are yet to confirm their participation.

Kenya concluded the selection of teams in Kakamega on Saturday, after the national secondary schools' Term Two games. Others were picked during the Term One games in Mombasa.

The qualified teams will camp in Kakamega for 10 days to prepare for the regional championships, said Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association secretary general David Ngugi.

Athletes who will represent Kenya arrived in Kakamega on Thursday for an intensive training camp as Kenya seeks to dethrone neighbours Uganda.

Newly crowned national football champions St Joseph’s Boys Kitale will lead Kenya’s charge in reclaiming the elusive title. St Joseph’s, fondly known as JOBO, stunned favourites Musingu High on Saturday.

The last Kenyan team to lift the title was Barding in 2016. Other teams are runners-up Musingu High, third-placed Highway, and Agai Mixed.

Butere Girls' head coach Edwin Sakwa vowed to lift the football title. They lost 1-0 to St Noa of Uganda in last year’s final in Mbale.

“The girls have played together for four years. This is their last year in high school, and we are confident they will crown it with the East African trophy,” said Sakwa.

Butere, their western Kenya region counterparts, Madira Girls', debutants Nasokol Girls', and Kobala Girls' will represent Kenya during the 10-day extravaganza.

Nasokol Girls' principal Susan Obiri commended her charges for finishing third.

“Finishing third and qualifying for FEASSA is a huge achievement for us. We have now shifted our focus to the regional games,” said Obiri.

Cheptil High will seek to reclaim the boys’ volleyball title when they represent the country alongside national games runners-up Malava Boys', third-placed Mwaluphampa and Gogo Mixed from Nyanza.

In the girls’ category, Kwanthanze, coached by veteran Justine Kigwari, will hope to dethrone archrivals Kesogon Mixed. Bushop Sulimeti and Soweto Mixed are also in the mix.

Three-time champions Oyugi Ogango, St Joseph’s Girls' Kitale, Bukokholo and Kaya Tiwi will represent Kenya in netball.

Others are St Peter’s Mumias, Koyonzo High, Bungoma High, and Friends School Bwake (boys’ rugby 7s).

National champions Kinale Girls', regional champions St Joseph’s Girls' Kitale, St Theresa’s Kithimu and Paul Harris are Kenya’s representatives in rugby 7s.

Sigalame, Pioneer School, St Joseph’s Boys' Kitale, and St Mary’s Yala are in the hunt for the boys’ basketball 3x3 title with Buruburu, Tigoi, Ng’iya and Asumbi doing duty in the girls' competition.