ARS School Games: The usual suspects enter semis

National and East African volleyball champions Kwanthanze Girls led a host of favourites in sealing their places in the semi-finals of the Airtel Rising Stars Secondary Schools National Term Two ‘B’ games on Wednesday in Machakos.

Kwanthanze beat rivals Lugulu Girls from Nzoia Region 3-1 (25-23, 22-25,25-22,28-26) in an entertaining Pool A match to storm the semis.

Buoyed by the home crowd, the Machakos-based school had setters Lillan Lelei, Winnie Akinyi, Lorine Chebet and Everline Nzilani to thank for the win after putting up impressive displays in the thriller.

“It was a tough match but our fighting spirit enabled us to win. We can go on to retain the title,” said Kwanthanze captian Teresia Akai. Lugulu coach Moses Lukorito said.

It was a close match and we lost because of minor details, with our reception being our main undoing,” AIC Kosirai from Mau Region are also through after recording a 3-0 (25-7 25-8 25-9) win over Gankanga of Highlands.

Tetu Girls of Aberdare bounced back from their 3-0 loss to Mau Region’s Kosirai to thrash Northern’s Nep Girls 3-0 (25-3 25-2 25-4) to revive their hopes of making the last four.

BOYS' VOLLEYBALL

In boys’ volleyball, Metropolitan’s Hospital Hill and Cheptil from Mau Region also entered semi-finals after they recorded second wins. Hospital recorded a straight sets 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-9) victory over Lake Region’s PeHill while Cheptil cruised to a 3-0 win (25-16,25-16,25-15) over Garissa High from Northern Region.

Defending champions Malava Boys also qualified after a straight sets win over Tetu High.

In boys’ football, Metropolitan Regional football champions Laiser Hill also sealed their place in the semi-finals after a  hard-fought 2-1 win over Aberdare Region champions Passenga High in a Pool B encounter.

It followed Laiser Hill’s 4-0 win over Mau Region’s Simotwo Boys on Tuesday during their first match. Two goals either side of the half from Kennedy Mwangi confirmed the Kajiado-based school’s slot in the semis and top of their pool with six points.

Passenga had levelled through James Kinyanjui just before the breather but were unable to prevent their first loss at the event.

Mwangi, who also scored in his team’s first game, capitalised on a defensive error to fire past Passenga keeper Daniel Likoko. Laiser Hill started the match without star play Musa Masika with the semi final in mind and captain Flavius Chamla was also replaced late on after suffering a knock during the match.

“We have achieved our first target, which was to qualify for the semi-finals. I’m proud of the lads for working hard. We are ready to face any team because to be the best, you have to beat the best. We want to go to the regionals in Rwanda,” said Laiser Hill team manager Shaban Baraza.

In the other pool B match, Simotwo rallied from two goals down to settle for a 2-2 draw with Coast Region’s Waa Boys. In girls’ football, Lake Region champions Kobala Girls and Nginda Girls from Aberdare also entered semis after recording their second wins in Pool B. Kobala thrashed Kikima from Metropolitan Region 4-0 while Nginda edged out Mau Region’s Eburru Girls 2-1 in the other match.

In Pool A, last year’s finalists St Johns’s Kaloleni stormed into the semis after an emphatic 9-0 win over Kirigara from Highland Region. Mwanahalima Adams scored six times while Ngari Dama struck a brace with Diana Akinyi scoring once. The other match between Olympic Mixed and Wiyeta ended 0-0.