A host of defending champions have the opportunity to defend their titles when the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association national Term One Games come to an end at Hill School, Eldoret on Saturday.
St Anthony's Kitale (boys' hockey), St Joseph's Kitale (girls' handball), Laiser Hill (boys' handball), Dr Aggrey (boys' basketball) and Kaya Tiwi (girls' basketball) reached Saturday's finals in conflicting styles.
St Anthony’s Kitale had to wait until the 10th penalty flick to beat Mangu in one of the most entertaining semi-finals on Friday.
The Anthony Lugalia-coached side battled for a 5-4 victory in sudden death flicks following a one-all draw in normal time.
The Rift Valley champions broke the deadlock in the 20th minute through Kelvin Onyango but Fugone Orendi leveled for the Central Kenya side in the 50th minute to send the match to flicks.
“It was a tough match, as expected, and we had to use our experience to carry the day,” said Lugalia.
Martin Kasanda and Hillary Angarina were on target for Western champions Musingu in a 2-0 victory over Meru School.
In girls' hockey, Nyanza’s Nyamira were too good for AIC Nyayo in a 4-0 thrashing. Lauren Auma bagged a brace in the sixth and 50th minutes while Vivian Akinyi and Jecinta Opondo added a goal each.
East Africa girls’ handball champions St Joseph’s Kitale beat Miranga 22-16 to book a final date against former champions Moi Girls Kamusinga.
Head coach Maurine Sitati said St Joseph's, the Rift Valley champions, have a job to do come Saturday morning.
“As much as we have qualified for the East Africa championships, we still need to defend our title,” she said.
In boys' handball, champions Hospital Hill will face Pool 'A' counterparts Mbooni at the final. Nairobi's Hill were 26-14 winners over Musingu (Western) while Mbooni from Eastern beat Nyathuna from Central 19-17.
Western’s Butula will take on Eastern’s All Saints in rugby 15s final. Butula beat Nairobi’s Ofafa Jericho 18-0 while Saints were 18-05 winners over Rift Valley’s St Anthony’s Kitale.
Basketball champions Kaya Tiwi and Dr Aggrey are on their way to defending girls' and boys' titles respectively.
Kaya Tiwi defeated Loreto 49-46 while Butere were 63-36 winners over Our Lady of Mercy.
In the boys category, former champions Laiser Hill beat Lukenya 68-32 while Dr Aggrey beat Dagoretti 59-52.