Nairobi Schools gun for Metropolitan Games honours

Schools from four Counties converge on Makueni Boys for the Metropolitan Region Secondary Schools Term Two A Games that get underway on Thursday.

The schools from Nairobi, Machakos, Makueni and Kajiado counties will fight it out in sevens rugby, under-16 football, handball, netball and athletics for the next three days for honours and slots to next month’s National Term Two A Games in Kangaru School, Embu County.

Nairobi County schools dominated last year’s event and will once again look to sweep all titles although Kajiado and hosts Makueni will definitely have something to say about that.

The newly introduced under-16 football competition will have Upper Hill, who won the Nairobi County final, as well as Kajiado County winners Laiser Hill among the favourites.

Upper Hill, who edged out Highway 2-0 in the County final last weekend, are in Pool B and will launch their hunt for the title against Machakos County winners Masii High before they take on Makueni County’s Ngoto in their second preliminary match later in the day.

The Nairobi-based school will rely on the services of talismanic striker Bol Monybing, who scored a brace in the final against Highway to lead them to the regional title.

Upper Hill coach Joseph Makokha has identified Laiser Hill (Kajiado) as his team’s main challengers to the title.

“We have been working on our attack because we did not score so many goals in the County Games despite the numerous chances we created,” the coach told Daily Nation Sport on Wednesday ahead of the team’s departure to Makueni.

“There is only one title and one ticket to the National Games and we are going there to claim both,” he added.

The other Pool B match will see Entarara from Kajaido County take on Ngoto.

OLD RIVALS CLASH

In Pool A, Laiser Hill face home team Utithi while Highway take on Muvuti from Machakos. In girls’ football, Nairobi’s Olympic Girls will renew their rivalry with Matuu Memorial in the opening Pool A match.

The two schools have clashed several times in the under-17 football competition over the years. The other fixture will see Kikima from Makueni play AIC Kajiado Girls.

Olympic thrashed Maina Wanjigi 5-0 to win the Nairobi tile and will be looking to complete the double. In rugby sevens, Laiser Hill will be out to wrestle the title from Upper Hill - who beat them 12-5 at the semi-final stage last year before trouncing Muhuri Muchiri 36-5 in the final.

Eight schools will battle it out in the discipline with the draws set to be held Thursday morning before the matches get underway. The semi-finals will be played on Friday with the finals set for Saturday.