High-flying Mogonga spike their way to EA Games volleyball semis

High-flying Mogonga spike their way to EA Games volleyball semis

Sparkling national volleyball boys’ champions Mogonga sailed to the semi-finals of the ongoing East Africa Schools Games here in Arusha, Tanzania following their successive third win on Monday as the inter-schools championship entered its fourth day.

The East Africa newcomers spiked IPRC Karongi of Rwanda by three sets to one to continue with their mesmeric run which has catapulted the Nyanza based side to storming the last four with a game to spare.

Mogonga saw off the Rwandans 25-18, 25-14, 23-25 and 25-18 as they continued to stamp their authority at the regional scene.

The national champions cruised past Mbogo Mixed from Uganda and Milambo of Tanzania in straight sets in their opening matches and head coach Nathan Kiptoo has dared to dream of the title.

“We are taking one game at a time and my boys are showing why they are champions in Kenya. In the semis anything can happen but we are ready to challenge the title which is held by the Rwandans,” he underscored.

Unlike in girls’ category where Kenya has dominated, the script is different for boys and Mogonga will be eyeing to wrestle the title from Rwanda who have won  it since 2017.

In girls’ contest, Cheptil and Soweto inched closer to sailing through to the last four after winning their second respective preliminary matches on Monday.

The Rift-valley based Cheptil saw off Trust High of Tanzania in straights sets (25-16, 25-14 and 25-13) while Soweto slayed hosts Makongo 25-11, 25-23 and 25-21.

Soweto who lost to their nemesis Cheptil  3-2 on Saturday must win against last year’s runners up Indagaburenzi of Rwanda to make it to the semis while Cheptil must win against the latter and Makongo to qualify.

At the same time, four-time rugby 15s champions Kakamega continued with their perfect start defeating arch-rivals and fellow Kenyans Dagoretti 32-5 in their second tie of the matches played in a round-robin format.

It was a battle of titans which brought everything to a standstill here at Tanzania Grant Tracks grounds with the two rivals renewing rivalry in foreign land after meeting in national finals held in Mombasa in April with 13-time champions Kakamega extending their dominance.

Kakamega who are aiming to reclaim the title they won lastly in 2016 are atop the standings on six points after thrashing Kangaru 46-0 in the opening fixture.

Kakamega head coach Amos Wamanga is brimming with confidence he will topple his opponents and bag the fifth title.

“We have already played the two Kenyan teams (Kangaru, Dagoretti) now and I believe we will defeat the remaining opponents to reclaim our gong,” he averred.

They play next  Namilyango, St. Mary’s Kisubi , Ntare – all from Uganda and Okeeswa of Tanzania.

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East Africa School Games Volleyball Semis IPRC Karongi Mogonga

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