School champs now eye East Africa crowns

Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) Rugby 7s champions Laiser Hill will be looking forward to add the regional crown in the abridged game to last year’s rugby 15s title they won in Rwanda.

Laiser edged out archrivals Upper Hill 24-20 in the finals at Kangaru School in Embu over the weekend with both progressing to represent Kenyan in the August East Africa Secondary School Games in Eldoret.

David Taabu from Laiser who was voted the Most Valuable Player in the finals believes his team can go all the way.

“The match between Laiser and Upper shows the level of rugby has improved in the country and this is the time to search for young talent for the senior rugby team,” national Rugby 7s coach, Benjamin Ayimba who was accompanied by his assistant Paul Murunga at Kangaru School remarked.

Kenya are the defending champions and hope to repeat what they done last year in Huye, Rwanda this term.

The team scooped 27 medals overall (nine gold, 11 silver and seven bronze medals).

“I am happy to see the growth of the games in the national level hoping that the East Africa games will be more of professionalism from the Kenyan team,” Athletics Kenya President Lt. Gen (Rtd) Jack Tuwei who was the chief guest underscored.

In the netball Obambo Girls who finished fifth in Huye will join national champions and debutants Kaya Tiwi who beat them at this year’s finals.

Other regulars in the competition will be national handball champions in the girls’ category Moi High Kamusinga who finished third in Rwanda, together with national finalist Sega who finished fifth in the last years East Africa competition.

In the Boys category national champions Kimilili will be joined by finalist Makongeni with the absence of St Peters Mimias who were finalist in Rwanda last year.

Secretary General KSSSA David Ngugi says this year’s team will enter camp earlier to have enough time to practice for the championship.

“We hope that the home advantage this year will be an addition to our team,” He added.

Soccer champions Wiyeta Girls and St Antony Kitale hope their top performance in the under 16 category will help them in the term 2B games in Kisumu, where the soccer teams for the East Africa secondary games will be chosen in August .