Schools gear up for Amadi Open

What you need to know:

  • Hosts Maseno are among the over 18 schools that have confirmed participation to the annual Amadi Open tournament that kicks off on Saturday morning.
  • Tournament coordinator Caleb Olang’o told nation.co.ke that rugby 10’s will be one of the main attractions alongside hockey, handball and basketball.
  • Other institutions that will battle out for top honours include East Africa rugby sevens champions St Peter’s Mumias, regional hockey champions Friends School Kamusinga, regional rugby 15s champions Kakamega High School, Upper Hill, Moi Sirgoi, St Joseph’s Kitale and Kaya Tiwi.

Hosts Maseno are among the over 18 schools that have confirmed participation to the annual Amadi Open tournament that kicks off on Saturday morning.

Tournament coordinator Caleb Olang’o told nation.co.ke that rugby 10’s will be one of the main attractions alongside hockey, handball and basketball during the two-day tourney.

Other institutions that will battle out for top honours include East Africa rugby sevens champions St Peter’s Mumias, regional hockey champions Friends School Kamusinga, regional rugby 15s champions Kakamega High School, Upper Hill, Moi Sirgoi, St Joseph’s Kitale and Kaya Tiwi.

Others are Nakuru High School, St Mary’s Yala, Itierio Boys, Kabianga High, Cardinal Otunga High School Mosocho, Chemelil and Utumishi Academies.

“We are also expecting Kampala Hockey and Weather Head Kampala Clubs to arrive anytime today (Friday). We will be using this competition to prepare for Term One secondary games that kicks off later this month,” said Olang’o.

He added that Maseno will be looking to reinforce its teams following dismal performance in last year’s regional and national competitions.

“It is true we didn’t win any major titles at regional and national level last year. We want to use this tournament to shape up our teams,” said Olang’o.

Maseno will face stiff competition in hockey, where Friends School Kamusinga, Kampala Hockey Club, Weather Head Kampala, Kakamega High, St Joseph’s Kitale, Nakuru High, Chemelil Academy and Itierio Boys are expected to pounce.

National hockey champions Sinyolo Girls are expected to dominate the girls' category.

In handball, several teams have confirmed their participation among them national champions Kimilili and runners-up Sega Girls from Siaya.

In girls basketball, national champions Kaya Tiwi are expected to dominate albeit competition from Nyanza region’s Barchando.

In the boy’s category, Maseno, Utumishi Academy and Kakamega High are favourites.

The tournament is sponsored by Equator Bottlers, Mumias Sugar, Longhorn Publishers, Pepsi and the hosts.