Battle lines drawn as School Games kick off in Eldoret
Barding’s Kombo Ziko (left) and Said Ali of Kathungi vie for the ball during their Airtel Rising Stars Secondary Schools Term Two B National Games match at Moi Stadium in Kisumu on August 4, 2016. PHOTO | TONNY OMONDI |
What you need to know:
- The boys’ football prize, which has eluded the hosts for the last 13 years, will be among the top targets.
- Debutantes Barding from Siaya County will fancy their chances of claiming three points when they come up against Zanzibar’s Charawe in their Pool A opener at the Hill School.
- Barding, who went down 3-1 on post-match penalties to Laiser Hill in the national finals, are determined to go one better.
- Kenyan champions Laiser Hill will renew their rivalry with 2015 national champions Passenga in Pool B in what should be a cracker.
- Kenya’s fourth representative Bukembe, who are in Pool C, will not be in action o Saturday.
Hosts Kenya will be out to defend their overall team title as the 15th edition of the Brookside East Africa Secondary School Games gets underway on Saturday across different venues in Eldoret.
The annual regional showpiece will see schools from Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Zanzibar, South Sudan as well as the hosts battle for honours in 13 disciplines for the next eight days.
Schools from the six countries arrived in the North Rift town on Thursday including Zanzibar and South Sudan which missed last year’s edition in Rwanda.
The event is back in Kenya after a 10-year absence. Kenya will be keen to reclaim the six ball games titles it lost during last year’s edition as well as reign supreme in athletics, swimming and racquet games.
The boys’ football prize, which has eluded the hosts for the last 13 years, will be among the top targets.
Uganda have dominated the discipline after winning 12 of the last 14 finals with Kenya’s St Anthony’s, winners in 2002, and Makongo from Tanzania breaking their dominance.
Kenyan schools will be in action Saturday morning as they seek to get off to good starts.
In boys’ football, debutantes Barding from Siaya County will fancy their chances of claiming three points when they come up against Zanzibar’s Charawe in their Pool A opener at the Hill School.
Barding, who went down 3-1 on post-match penalties to Laiser Hill in the national finals, are determined to go one better.
“We have got another chance to show what we can do and the disappointment of missing out on the title in Kisumu will motivate us to do well,” Barding coach George Owoko told Saturday Nation Sport.
Barding’s striker Zico Roocha Baraza, who impressed in Kisumu and has been linked with a move to Kenyan Premier League champions Gor Mahia, will lead the team’s attack. Another tie in the pool will see Makongo take on Hanika TSS from Uganda.
LAISER, PASSENGA CLASH
Kenyan champions Laiser Hill will renew their rivalry with 2015 national champions Passenga in Pool B in what should be a cracker.
The two teams drew 1-1 in Kisumu as Laiser went on to win their maiden title with Passenga finishing third. Passenga beat Laiser Hill 1-0 to win the national title in Machakos last year.
“They (Laiser) are familiar rivals and we aim to extend our fine record against them. The team that converts its chances will win the clash,” Passenga coach Daniel Musomba said. Kenya’s fourth representative Bukembe, who are in Pool C, will not be in action on Saturday.
In girls’ football, national champions St John’s Kaloleni play Nyakach Girls as Wiyeta tackle Nginda Girls in all-Kenyan ties. There will also be clashes between Kenyan sides in basketball and volleyball.
Kenyan basketball champions Upper Hill face third place finishers Kapenguria while Alliance will be up regional champions ETG Nyakabiga of Burundi.
In girls’ matches, Kaya Tiwi face Barachando while Buru Buru Girls tackle Rwanda’s Lycee de Kigali.
