Secondary schools banned for fielding non-students in sports tourney

The Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) banned a number of schools among them Tetu and Kapenguria Boys schools from participating in this year’s Term Games.

Secretary General for KSSSA Mr. David Ngugi said the association banned schools which fielded ineligible players who were either non-students or over the 19 age limit allowed to take part in the championship.

Speaking during the ongoing Term Two Games for secondary schools at Hill’s School in Eldoret, Ngugi said unscrupulous schools and teachers fielded players in order to have an advantage over other schools, saying this was against the rules and regulations of the association.

The Regional Coordinator for Education for Rift Valley Mary Gaturu said the games are aimed at developing talent among school going children, saying inclusion of non-students and ineligible players denied opportunity to bonafide students to develop their talents.

Gaturu said they are determined to fight cheating in sports just as the Education Ministry is fighting cheating in examinations.

She said Kapenguria Boys school was kicked out for fielding ineligible players against the rules set out by KSSSA.

The Regional Coordinator for Central Region, Mr. Stephen O. Barongo and his Nyanza Counterpart, Mr. Richard L. Chepkawai said they eliminated schools at County and Regional levels which had entered non students and ineligible players in their respective teams.

“We eliminate Tetu Boys from representing the region in Volleyball and replaced it with another school, which was runners up at regional level, only for the third school to complain that it had also fielded an ineligible player,” Mr. Barongo said.

Mr. Chepkawai said Nyanza region had ensured that a school which had violated the rules did not get a chance to get to the national levels.