Limping giants Maseno plot major comeback in championships
Derick Ondari of Maseno School tries to get past St Peter’s Mumias defence in the final rugby match of the 2014 secondary schools national championships at Shimo la Tewa on April 19. Former secondary schools national basketball champions Maseno School have embarked on a serious campaign to reclaim their lost glory. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Last month, Maseno held a successful holiday training camp featuring all disciplines and Otula reckons this will translate to positive results.
- Otula praised the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association for successfully partnering with sponsors for the games, something he says has made the championships more competitive.
- Onyango banks on Fanuel Aduda, Jeff Walter Oke and Sylvester Ogeto to shine as they seek to emulate Kenya Sevens star Billy Odhiambo and New Zealand-based Seje Owade who came through the school’s ranks.
Former secondary schools national basketball champions Maseno School have embarked on a serious campaign to reclaim their lost glory.
Maseno lost both the Lake region and national basketball titles last year and coach Paul Otula, who is also the school principal, yesterday said Maseno, who are also national champions in sevens rugby and East African champions in 15s rugby, will bounce back this year.
Last month, Maseno held a successful holiday training camp featuring all disciplines and Otula reckons this will translate to positive results. Otula termed their loss in basketball to Ambira last year at the Lake region games ‘brutal’, saying his boys have vowed to bounce back.
DEVASTATING LOSS
“We saw the brutal side of sports last year. Despite being the best team, we lost in basketball at the Lake region finals. We are wounded but confident of bouncing back in a big way this year,” Otula, who is also the Kenya basketball federation chairman, said.
Otula praised the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association for successfully partnering with sponsors for the games, something he says has made the championships more competitive. He said Maseno values holistic development and this explains why its players also attain university entry grades and are spread in local and foreign universities. Singling out Dwayne Oluoch, David Odanga, David Wanjara and Felix Nyabuto as key players in Maseno’s basketball team this year, Otula warned their opponents at all levels to prepare for a big battle.
HOLISTIC DEVELOPMENT
“Maseno is the school to be. We offer holistic development for students. This can be seen in good performance of our students in academics and extracurricular activities,” Otula said.
His sentiments were echoed by his deputy, Isaac Okeyo Ogol who said without teamwork from all staff, such performance can’t be achieved. Maseno’s hockey coach, Franklin Odayo, said: “In 2012, we were fifth nationally and improved to second in 2013 when we also finished second at the East Africa games. Last year, we were third nationally and second in East Africa, a performance that makes me believe we’ve come of age and should turn tables this year,” he said.
Maseno, coached by Gilbert Onyango, won the 2014 national sevens rugby title and came second in the longer version but won the East African 15s title. Onyango banks on Fanuel Aduda, Jeff Walter Oke and Sylvester Ogeto to shine as they seek to emulate Kenya Sevens star Billy Odhiambo and New Zealand-based Seje Owade who came through the school’s ranks.
