Three-time Nyanza secondary schools rugby 15s champions Kisii School must work hard to navigate a tough Pool ‘B’ at the Brookside Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association national Term One games in Mombasa.
Kisii School are in Pool ‘B’ alongside Sevens champions Friends School Bwake, runners-up Vihiga Boys and Marafa Secondary from the coast region.
East Africa champions, All Saints Embu, headline Pool ‘A’ alongside Upper Hill, Serani Boys’ and Mang’u High.
The national championships will be staged at Shimo la Tewa High School and Shanzu Teachers’ Training College from April 7 to 12.
On Wednesday, Kisii School coach Edwin Morara said: “It’s a fairly tough pool, actually the ‘Pool of Death’. We must work extra hard for us to qualify for the semifinals.”
Kisii School fell at the group phase in the past two years. Morara is keen to change the narrative. “When this year’s competition started, we set our target of qualifying for nationals and playing in the finals. We are on course,” he said.
“After we successfully defended the Nyanza title, we embarked on intense training focusing on defence and attack.”
Kisii beat St. Mary’s Yala 3-0 to retain the Nyanza title.
On facing Bwake and Vihiga, Morara said, “Bwake won the 7s title last year and will be making their debut in the 15s. Vihiga have been there before. They are good teams. We are equally good since we have been to the nationals two times.”
Kisii faced eventual winners All Saints Embu and losing finalists Butula Boys at last year’s group phase. All Saints beat Butula 13-10 to clinch the title.
Butula will miss this year’s edition after they were banned for fielding an ineligible player during the Federation of East Africa Secondary School Games in Mbale, Uganda, last year.
Nyanza Region Secondary Schools
Sports Association secretary Tom
Odhiambo said the Nyanza contingent
will travel to Mombasa on April 6 and
acclimatise for a day.
