St. Peters seeking vengeance in Mumias

St. Peters Mumias are plotting a revenge mission at the 2018 Kakamega County Games after watching the rugby Sevens title slip into the hands of bitter rivals Kakamega High School last year.

Kakamega defeated St. Peters 6-3 to edge a hotly contested final last year and will seek a third straight title when the County Games kick off on Wednesday in Mumias.

But St. Peters head coach Libondo  Shimenga says his charges have learnt their lesson from last year’s setback and hoped home advantage will spur them on to their ultimate goal of winning the title.

“Every team that has qualified for the Games is very strong so we are going to take it one game at a time.

“As the hosts the pressure is on us to deliver but we have very quality players who can cope with it. We are looking forward to conquer the tournament,” Shimenga told Citizen Digital.

Having  finished  third in the national competition held in Kangaru, Embu, Kakamega will  be among three teams that will represent the country at the East African showpiece in Rwanda.

In that regard, the 15s players won’t be allowed to participate in the sevens competition leaving Kakamega coach Amos Wamanga reeling at the ‘disadvantage’.

“The County games are going to be very competitive yet my team has been let down a little beat by the fact that its star players in the 15s team will not be allowed to participate but we hope to be competitive.

“St Peters Mumias , Musingu and Mukumu are very good teams but we have prepared well  and it will be very good to win both the Sevens and 15s,” Wamanga said.

In football, National Super League side Green Commandoes of Kakamega High School will be the team to beat as they seek to maintain their stranglehold of the regional title.

Green Commandoes went into the history books by being the first High School team to qualify for the second-tier National Super League (NSL) after topping the Division One Zone B table.

Last year, they lifted the County title after beating Butere Boys 3-0 in the final held at the Mumias Sports Complex Stadium.

The side has been far from impressive in the NSL, sitting just three places above the relegation zone but remain clear favourites in Mumias.

“We have learned a lot from the NSL, we will play every game as a final because as defending champions every opponent will want to beat us. We are looking forward to the Games and we will work hard to retain the title,” head coach Breden Mwinamo said.

Bishop Njenga are odds on to win the Girls’ title after they defeated Butere Girls 5-4 in post-match shootouts to claim last year’s title after the match had ended 3-3 in regular time.

In Boys’ volleyball, powerhouse Malava Boys will face stiff competition from, Namulungu Boys, Mukumu High School and Kakamega High as Mukumu bid to hold on to the Girls title.