Upper Hill on the prowl for a semi-final slot
Catherine Erumbi of Olympics juggles the ball on June 29, 2016 during the launch of Nairobi County secondary schools Term Two ‘B’ games at Upper Hill. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |
What you need to know:
- Hospital Hill, Soweto defend volleyball titles
- Upper Hill, who are gunning for a fourth successive county title, open their account against Pumwani Boys before finishing their Pool ‘A’ matches against Brown Hill.
- Victory in both matches will see them top the pool and advance to the last four round set for Saturday.
Champions Upper Hill will be looking to seal their place in the football semi-finals as the Nairobi County Secondary Schools Term Two B Games begin this morning at the Starehe Boys Centre and Eastleigh Boys High School.
Upper Hill, who are gunning for a fourth successive county title, open their account against Pumwani Boys before finishing their Pool ‘A’ matches against Brown Hill. Victory in both matches will see them top the pool and advance to the last four round set for Saturday.
Upper Hill have won the last three meetings against Pumwani and will be favourites to make it four as they seek to reach the knockout stage. The 2013 national champions are seeking a comeback to the nationals after missing the last two editions.
“Our target is to win back the national title but we first have to finish our business in the county and regional stage,” Upper Hill coach Joseph Makokha told Saturday Nation Sport on Friday.
Coach Makokha has assembled a largely new side with only four players spared from last year’s squad that beat Olympic Mixed 5-2 in the county final played at Lenana High School.
At Eastleigh High School, finalists Olympic begin their campaign against former champions Nairobi School in Pool ‘B’. The other team in the pool Makongeni, last year’s semi-finalist, will also fancy their chances of making it through.
CAUTION URGED
In the girls’ matches, champions Olympic Mixed will be up against Hidden Talent in Pool ‘A’ before they finish their group matches against Dandora Secondary School. Olympic romped to a 5-0 win over Maina Wanjigi to win the title last year. The duo are tipped to clash in the final.
Olympic coach Maurice Okumu has warned against complacency in their encounter against Hidden Talent.
Boys’ and girls’ volleyball champions Hospital Hill and Soweto Academy are also favourites to retain their titles. Hospital Hill face Ruaraka High and Ofafa Jericho High in Pool ‘A’ while Soweto Academy will need to overcome Kamukunji and Brown Hill to reach the knock out stages. The semis and finals will be played on Friday.
