NAIROBI School are keen to represent the county at the national secondary school Term One ball games in Mombasa in April, coach Allan Wanjohi has said.
The rugby powerhouse fell short last year after succumbing 29-10 to rivals Lenana in the regional semifinals.
Lenana represented Nairobi at the nationals held in Machakos, where they bowed out in the semis.
However, Wanjohi is optimistic about his team’s chances this year.
They start their campaign at the provincial championships this weekend.
The former national champions are in Pool ‘C’ alongside Kangemi, Garden Estate and Dagoretti Mixed.
“We have a good chance of going all the way. We learnt our lessons from last year’s semifinal defeat. I believe we are in a better position to be competitive,” added Wanjohi.
The ‘Patch Machine’ warmed up for the competition at the Alliance and Lenana Open tournaments, where they bowed out in the quarterfinals and preliminary rounds respectively.
Holders Lenana headline Pool ‘A’ alongside Sunshine, Hospital Hill and Baba Dogo.
Last year’s losing finalists Upper Hill will be aiming to go one place better when they meet Dandora, Mutuini and Our Lady of Fatima in an easy-looking Pool ‘B’. Semifinalists from last year, Dagoretti, have a date with Langata, Light Academy and Strathmore School in Pool ‘D’.
The 2023 champions Ofafa Jericho will fancy their chances of advancing to the national contest. They take on Moi Forces Academy (MFA), Peter Kibukosya and Kibera in Pool ‘E’. Qualification for the quarterfinals, set for March 19, will be decided on points accrued at the pool stage.
The semis are set for March 21 while the third-place playoff and the final will be contested on March 22.
The girls’ competition has attracted seven teams. Dagoretti Mixed headline Pool ‘A’, where they battle Kibera and Garden Estate. Pool ‘B’ has Karen C, Kibera GSA, State House Girls and Ushirika