Onjiko confident of defending county, regional basketball titles

Nyanza region secondary school boys’ basketball champions Onjiko School head coach and principal Joseph Were are confident of retaining Kisumu County and Nyanza region titles.

On Tuesday, Were sounded a warning to his opponents, saying he is not afraid of any team, especially at the county and regional level.

“Maybe our strongest opponents are former champions Agoro Sare and Maseno School. They are our friends but we shall beat them. I don’t foresee any stiff competition from them this year. Our target is the national title,” added Were.

He said he has a better team compared to last year, where they won the regional title on debut.

“I only lost two players, Yien Matai and point guard Ken Nyakundi, who completed their studies,” added Were.

During pre-season tournaments, Onjiko won St Peter’s Mumias and the Friends School Kamusinga tournaments.

At the county championships, Onjiko are in Pool ‘A’ alongside Kasagam, Kisumu Boys and Otieno Oyoo while Pool ‘B’ will has Maseno School, Nyabondo, Ngere and hosts Chemelil Academy.

The Kisumu County championships will be held at Chemelil Academy and Chemelil Stadium on March 22 and 23 while the swimming competition will be staged at Aga Khan Primary School on March 25, according to Kisumu County Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association secretary George Osura.

Osura further exuded confidence that Onjiko and Kisumu Day will reclaim their Nyanza regional boys’ basketball and hockey titles at the regionals.

“I have watched Onjiko and Kisumu Day. They are too strong. Maseno School’s hockey team is also very good. I hope Sinyolo Girls will reclaim the girls’ hockey title which they lost to Nyamira Girls,” Osura told the Star.

Kisumu will field two teams in boys’ basketball and hockey since the defending champions hail from the county.

The regional Term One games will be held at Kisii School and Kisii University on April 4-8. Track and field events will be held at Gusii Stadium.