St Mary's Yala's rugby team performs a mock haka/ANGWENYI GICHANA
Defending champions St Mary’s School Yala will be out to maintain their dominance when the Siaya County Secondary Schools Championships get underway on Thursday across various venues in Siaya County.
Yala will be seeking to retain their rugby sevens, volleyball, and football titles at the event, which runs until Saturday. They are also setting their sights on the boys’ basketball 3x3 crown
The championships will be hosted at Siaya Technical and Training Institute, Kenya Medical Training College (Siaya Campus), Central Secondary School, Awelo Primary School, Hono Secondary School and Hono Primary School, with rugby sevens matches set to be played at Mulaha.
St Mary’s School Yala Games Master Peter Ojwala said the school was targeting success across all disciplines. “We want to defend our titles and also go for the 3x3 basketball trophy,” said Ojwala.
Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) Siaya County chairman Ngala Mbuor said the competition was moved from Ambira High School following a student strike at the institution. “We expect to have a highly competitive championship, especially in football, rugby sevens and volleyball,” said Mbuor.
In boys’ football, Yala headline Pool A, where they will face Nyagondo, Ndenga and former Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) champions Barding High School. Pool B comprises Uloma Nyangoma, Usenge and representatives from Rarieda Sub-County.
Former champions Lwak Girls lead the girls’ football competition in Pool A alongside Hawinga, Simero and Wambasa, while Aluor, Siranga, Bondo Township and Sinaga make up Pool B.
In rugby Sevens, Nyanza regional champions St Mary’s Yala have been drawn in Pool A together with Majengo, Chianda, Sigomere, Bondo Township and Ndenga. Pool B features Nyagondo, coached by veteran tactician J.J. Masime, Ambira High School, Maranda, Sawagongo and Ukwala.
Masime boasts an impressive record, having previously guided Machakos School, Maseno School, Nduru Boys and Friends School Anjego to national championships.
Defending girls’ rugby Sevens champions Sidindi face a challenging Pool A that includes Nyakongo, Nyamonye, Gobei, Ng’iya and Nyabenda. Pool B consists of Nyamira Girls, Sirembe, Got Oyenga, Sinaga, Lwak and Ndenga.
In girls’ volleyball, last year’s finalists Aluor Girls and regional champions Nyakongo are among the favourites to claim the title. Aluor Girls are in Pool A with Ng’iya Girls, Wambasa and Umina.
At the same time, Nyakongo will take on Nyamira Girls, Sinaga and Inungo in Pool B. Former netball giants Obambo will be hoping to reclaim past glory. They have been placed in Pool A alongside defending champions Kandaria, Nyamira Girls and Humwend.
Pool B features Wagai, Nyamonye, Sigomere and Nyawara. Yala will also be among the contenders in the boys’ basketball 3x3 competition, where they have been drawn in Pool A with Ugenya High, Maranda High, Usenge, Malele, Ambira High and Chianda.
Pool B consists of Sawagongo, Nyagondo, Rang’ala Boys, Obambo, Usinda, Nyangoma, Kanyibok and Kandaria.
In the girls’ basketball 3x3 competition, Pool A features Ng’iya Girls, Kanyibok, Rang’ala Girls, Lwak Girls, Nyamira Girls, Sega Girls and Nyawara. Pool B includes Barchando, Aluor Girls, Usinda, Sinaga, Obambo, Got Osimbo and Kandaria.
