High Court order stops girls handball school games clash

Drama unfolded on Day 2 of the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) Term 2A National Ball Games on Wednesday when a girls’ handball clash was stopped by a court order.

Kirigara Girls of Highlands were all set to take to the pitch to sweat it out with St. John’s Kaloleni from Coast but to their shock, they were told the game could not proceed.

Shimba Hills obtained orders from the High Court in Mombasa stopping their counterparts from St. John’s taking part in the competition until a case filed against their exclusion is heard and determined.

In their suit, Shimba who were allegedly stripped of their chance to represent their region in the nationals on allegations of fielding ineligible players at the Coast championships, claim they were tossed out unfairly.

The fate of the girls’ handball competition was unclear by the time of going to press with KSSSA trying to navigate through the unprecedented legal hurdle.

The last time the High Court intervened to stop a sporting competition was March last year when Football Kenya Federation injunction to stop the Kenyan Premier League at the height of the tussle of the 18-team versus 16-team top flight competition.

High Court Judge, Roselyn Aburili, lifted the injunction a fortnight later.

In football, there were no problems- legal or otherwise- for Nzoia titans Wiyeta Girls and St. Anthony Boys who sealed their quarter final tickets without breaking sweat.

A day after thumping Kaya Kawi (Coast) 7-0, St. Anthony were once again in the seventh heaven when they rolled over Katheka 7-1 in their second pool clash for a staggering 14-goal haul in successive fixtures.

The team billed as ‘champions in waiting’ opened the flood gates in the fifth minute through Tyson Kapchanga scored in the 5th before a Silas Ogina double in the 21st and 46th put the Nzoia titans out of reach.

Captain Phillip Mayaka grabbed the fourth in the 51st with Leonard Mwangi and Daniel Chepkwoni sealing the rout as Jackson Kikii earned the scant consolation for Katheka.

Wahundura from Aberdare outclassed Kaya Tiwi 4-2 with goals from a brace from Dismas Kipkoech, Jeff Mbatha and an own goal from Eric Chipah sealing victory. Chipah also netted for Tiwi from the spot.

Wiyeta were given a good work out by Olympic from Metropolitan before prevailing 2-0 in the girls’ competition.

Jessica Sironya was the difference between the seasoned campaigners when she converted two penalties in the 43rd and 74th.

Eburru from Mau piled more misery to Gategi who shipped in 11 on Tuesday with another 8-2 demolition while after losing to Olympic on Tuesday, Highlands hope, Passenga recovered to edge Katutu 2-1.

However, there in handball girls category was a bit of confusion after reports emerged that Shimba Hills had moved to court seeking to be included in the event instead of St. Johns Kaloleni.

In handball boys’ Igegania from Aberdare buried Waberi from Northern 42-3 as Itierio prevailed 25-19 against St. Peter’s Chesirikwo from Mau in a tough clash.

In the girls’ category Kabianga hammered Waberi 68-0 while Graceland from Aberdare were humbled by Kamusinga Girls 25-11.

In netball, national defending champions Obambo Girls from Lake Region continued to stamp their authority in the game by defeating Cheptil 34-24.

Report by Anthony Muchiro