•A wide array of trophies will be up for grabs, the most coveted one being the national football title that St. Anthony’s Boys Kitale presently holds.
•Lorna Faith, the explosive striker for Butere Girls’ and Junior Starlets, will look to emulate the exploits that earned her the title of Most Valuable Player in girls’ football in the preceding tournament.
Image: EMMANUEL SABUNI
The Kenya secondary schools’ Term Two ball games have started in earnest across the country with several institutions flexing muscles in a vicious battle of supremacy.
A wide array of trophies will be up for grabs, the most coveted one being the national football title that St. Anthony’s Boys Kitale presently holds.
Kesogon, who upset Kwathanze in girls’ volleyball last year, will be vying for another gold medal. Other schools out to extend their stature as champions include Koyonzo (Rugby Sevens), Butere Girls (football), Ruthimitu (boys volleyball), Ototo (girls 3×3 basketball), Onjiko (boys’ 3×3 basketball) and Oyugi Ogango (netball).
Lorna Faith, the explosive striker for Butere Girls’ and Junior Starlets, will look to emulate the exploits that earned her the title of Most Valuable Player in girls’ football in the preceding tournament.
She scored an electrifying goal for Kenya in their emphatic 3-0 thrashing of Ethiopia at Ulinzi Complex during the Under 17 World Cup qualifier a week ago.
Last year’s inter-school competition in Kakamega County was a huge success, given four youngsters who excelled at the games attracted verdant deals from well-established foreign-based football academies.
Aldrine Kibet, a former St. Anthony’s devastating striker, landed a scholarship with Nastic Academy of Spain, along with teammate captain Amos Wanjala and Alvin Kasavuli, who captained Goseta High School in last year’s championship.
Parents’ support is essential for schools to successfully promote sports and there are compelling reasons for doing so.
Co-curricular activities are highly valued in Kenyan education systems and school games are an essential component of students’ educational odysseys.
Encouraging students to participate in such activities helps them in their academic endeavours and sets them on course for life after school.
School games foster discipline, resilience, persistence, and goal-setting. By embracing difficulties and conquering barriers encountered in sports, students develop the virtue of endurance which is essential for academic excellence.
They play a big role in moulding personalities and imparting valuable lessons about respect, discipline, and teamwork.
Students not only perform better academically but also develop into more well-rounded persons. Games give students a place to explore their passions, find new talents, and grow in their areas of interest.
School tournaments are set up to develop future stars in a variety of professions in addition to providing entertainment. The accompanying competitive spirit and ambition for perfection urge students to push the boundaries of their abilities and cultivate a growth mentality.
Students involved in these games gain a variety of abilities and traits that are necessary for success in the real world.
Students gain an understanding of the value of teamwork, communication, and fair play —attributes that are extremely helpful in other areas of life.
Furthermore, school games provide students with the opportunity to enhance their leadership and teamwork abilities. They learn to cooperate to achieve objectives. Sports require students to use critical thinking and problem-solving techniques, which are vital for success in the classroom and their future employment. Discovering passions may inspire a quest for excellence, ultimately resulting in a lucrative profession.
Extracurricular activities allow learners to develop leadership skills, organize events, and master leadership roles, in addition to learning effective communication, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities. Effective planning and prioritization are necessary to balance extracurricular and academic obligations. This helps students gain experience in time management and task prioritisation.