Upper Hill in tough pool in Metro Games
What you need to know:
- Olympic Mixed, Matuu Memorial renew rivalry at Metropolitan regional games
- Beusang beat Upper Hill in the 2014 regional finals while Utithi defeated the Nairobi County school during the under 16 football competition in May.
- Upper Hill coach Joseph Makokha expressed confidence of going all the way, despite being in a tough pool.
Former national boys’ football champions Upper Hill have been drawn in a tough pool in the Airtel Rising Stars Metropolitan Region Secondary Schools Term Two B Games, which begin on Thursday at Nyayo National Stadium and Upper Hill School.
Upper Hill are in Pool B alongside Machakos County champions Utithi, Kajiado giants Brother Beusang and Kimanza from Makueni County, according to the draws released on Tuesday.
The team last won the Metropolitan title and the national crown in 2013. Upper Hill will be banking on home advantage to reclaim the title and book the only slot to the national games set for Kisumu next month.
Beusang beat Upper Hill in the 2014 regional finals while Utithi defeated the Nairobi County school during the under 16 football competition in May.
Upper Hill coach Joseph Makokha expressed confidence of going all the way, despite being in a tough pool.
“We would be up against familiar opponents and playing at home would give us the impetus to go all the way to the final and win back the title,” Makokha told Daily Nation Sport.
Upper Hill qualified for the regional games after a 1-0 victory over Olympic Mixed in the Nairobi County final two weeks ago. Defending champions Laiser Hill from Kajiado County head Pool A. The will take on Olympic Mixed, Muvuti (Makueni) and Ngaakaa from Machakos County.
Girls’ champions Olympic Mixed will renew their rivalry with Matuu Memorial from Makueni County after the two giants were pooled together. Other teams in Pool B are Utithi from Machakos and Kajiado’s Ilbisil.
In volleyball, champions Kwanthanze and Hospital Hill will be favourites to retain their girls’ and boys’ crowns. Last year’s losing finalists Soweto Academy (girls) and Utithi (boys) will be aiming to upset the form book.
