St Joseph's, Kitale, pose for a group photo during the National Secondary Schools Games in Kakamega/ HANDOUTKenyan teams have been drawn in tricky pools for the Federation of East African Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) Games, starting on Wednesday in Kakamega.
Kenya will seek to wrestle the overall title from neighbours and arch-rivals Uganda at the 22nd edition of the regional championships, scheduled for August 13-24.
National boys' football runners-up Musingu, bronze medalists Highway Secondary and Butere Boys' are in Pool 'A' alongside Feasssa champions Amus College and Buddo Buddo (Uganda), Rwanda's CGFK Kicukiro and Tanzania's Kizuka.
Uganda's multiple winners, St Mary's Kitende, headline Pool B, alongside Kenyan champions St Joseph's Kitale, debutants Agai Mixed, Burundi's E.P.M Mpanda, Benjamin Mkapa Secondary from Tanzania, Bukedea Comprehensive School, and A.P.E Rugunga from Rwanda.
The five Kenyan teams hope to emulate St Anthony’s Kitale, who won the inaugural title in 2002, and Barding High, who won it in 2016. St Joseph’s coach Amos Wanda admitted that they are in a difficult pool.
“It’s a tough pool and we will play many matches. Like St. Antony's, we are no pushovers. Our ultimate target is to play in the final and lift the title,” said Wanda.
In the girls' category, Kenya's silver medallists, Madira, and bronze medallists, Nasokol, are in Pool A, where they face a huge task against defending champions St. Noa from Uganda. They will also face off with Rwanda's PSSB Huye, Tanzania's Alliance and Kawempe Muslim from Uganda.
Kenya's three-time champions, Butere Girls, are in a tough Pool B together with compatriots Archbishop Njenga and Kobala. The teams will battle it out with Tanzania powerhouses Fountain Gate, Uganda's Amus College, and Boni Concilli Vocational Secondary.
Butere will bank on the experience of Kenya’s U-17 internationals led by captain Halima Imbachi, Lorna Wasike, Lorna Faith, and Diana Anyango in their bid to lift the title. Coach Sakwa said he has 10 players who have featured in the Junior Starlets, and the experience will come in handy during the competition.
However, Joy Angela Valencia will miss the competition due to injury. She is out for nine months. “Last year, we lost 1-0 in the finals against St Noa. This year, the girls are more experienced. They have played together for the last four years, and I believe they can win the East Africa trophy,” said Sakwa.
Scrabble, chess, tennis, table tennis, badminton, rugby 7s, hockey, beach football, beach volleyball, lacrosse, and cricket will be played in a round-robin format.
