- Western will have four representatives in the Rugby 7’s which include Koyonzo Boys, Vihiga High, Bungoma High and Kimobo Secondary School.
- Schools hosting the games will be releasing their students today in readiness for the start of the tournament.
Image: FILE
The Kenya Secondary School ball games are set for August 8, 2023, with Kakamega County playing host.
The Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) has picked Kakamega High School, Bukhungu Stadium, St Ignatius, Mukumu Boys, St Peter’s Seminary-Mukumu, Kakamega Approved School and Masinde Muliro University as hosts of the tournament.
The five-day sporting exhibition will bring together schools from counties to compete in different disciplines—football, volleyball, rugby, handball, tennis, and hockey among others.
Schools hosting the games will be releasing their students today in readiness for the start of the tournament.
The organisers said they were putting every effort possible to make this year’s event a major success.
“We will be releasing our boys on Monday morning to give the participating teams a conducive environment,” Principal of St Ignatius Mukumu Boys said.
Kakamega and areas nearby will be a beehive of activities as schools begin arriving on August 5-6, as per the directive of the KSSSA.
“We expect all the participating teams on Saturday, August 5 and Sunday, August 6 after which they will train in their various spaces and acquaint themselves with the local environment," KSSSA Western region general secretary, Quinto Omusugu said.
"The referees charged with officiating the various matches will undergo training from Saturday 5 to Monday 7."
Football is the main spectacle of the tournament which is set for some mouthwatering fixtures.
Pool A has Shanderema Secondary School, who were crowned Western region football champions, North Eastern champions Bute Secondary School, Agoro Sare and Kirangari Boys Secondary School.
In pool B, six-time national champions St Antony Boy’s Kitale highlight the group that has Nairobi champions Dagoretti High School, Matiliku Boys High School from Eastern and Serani Boys High School from the Coast.
Western will have four representatives in the Rugby 7’s which include Koyonzo Boys, Vihiga High, Bungoma High and Kimobo Secondary School.
Rift Valley champions Menegai High School will be joined by Bwake Boys from Trans Nzoia, Garashi and Shimba Hills will represent the coast. The central region has Alliance Boys and Kiambu High.
Eastern has Kitondo School and Kangaru School. Nairobi has Upperhill and Lenana School while Nyanza will be represented by Saint Mary’s School Yala and former champions Maseno School.
Girls volleyball which has been dominated by Kwathanze Girls Secondary School From Eastern are in Pool A with Soweto Secondary from Nairobi, Vyambani Secondary from the Coast.
Pool B has reigning silver medalists Kesogon from Rift Valley, Karima Secondary from Central, Nyakach Girls from Nyanza and Mwitoto Secondary from Western.
Boys volleyball has Namwela Secondary from Western, Tumaini Secondary from Eastern, Vitengani from the Coast in Pool A. Pool B has Onjiko Boys, Ruthimitu Secondary, 2004 champions Tetu and Andersen Secondary.
Semifinalists will book a slot for the Federation of East Africa Secondary School Sports Association games (FEASSSA) that will be held in Rwanda. The 20th edition of the tournament is scheduled for August 17-27 2023.
Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa commended KSSSA for picking the county as the host of this year’s school games saying that they are ready to host the tournament.
"This event is essential for the prosperity of our county because it will spur growth. I thus ensure the total safety of the organisers. We are a peaceful and hospitable people, and I am confident that the participants will enjoy their time here,” he said.