Kwanthanze, Cheptil face-off in all-Kenyan semis

IN MUSANZE, RWANDA

Champions Kwanthanze will on Thursday lock horns with compatriots Cheptil in an all-Kenyan girls’ volleyball semi-final on day five of the Brookside East Africa Secondary School Games here.

The other last four clash will be a Rwandese affair as 2015 winners GS Indagaburezi face IPRC Kigali for a place in Saturday’s final.

The clashes guarantee a Kenya versus Rwanda final yet again following last year’ battle between Kwanthanze and St Alloys, which the Kenyans won in Gulu, Uganda. Kwanthanze, who are gunning for a fourth title, finished top of Pool A after three wins out of three, while Cheptil were placed second in pool B behind top-placed Indagaburezi.

Kwanthanze will start as favourites having edged out their opponents in their recent clash during last month’s National Term Two Games in Eldoret. But Cheptil coach Anne Birgen is confident they can upset the defending champions.

“We want to be champions and that means beating the best. Kwanthanze are very experienced and a good side but we believe we can stop them,” the coach said on Wednesday.

She will rely on Caroline Jeruto, who is the side's most experienced player, to rise to the occasion against Kwanthanze. Captain Benedine Jepng’etich is also expected to diligently execute her setter duties.

Right attacker Sharon Jeruto, who is in Form One, will also look to put in a good show in the all-Kenyan clash. Cheptil, who have lost in five past finals during the regional games, won bronze at last year’s competition.

Kwanthanze coach Justine Kigwari has called on his charges not to underestimate their opponents. “We have to give our best and be better than we have being since the competition started. The final beckons,” he said.

FIXTURES

Thursday

Football

Boys

Kakamega v CIP Muhanga (Rwanda)

St Mary’s Kitende (Uganda) v Olbolosat

Girls

G.S Remera (Rwanda) v Archbishop Njenga

Nginda v Gaddafi Integrated (Uganda)

Kawempe Muslim (Uganda) v Kwale

Basketball

Boys

APE Rugunga (Rwanda) v Sigalame

LDK (Rwanda) v Laiser Hill

Volleyball

Kapkenyeloi v Buremba SS (Uganda)

Girls Semi-final

Kwanthanze v Cheptil

IPRC Kigali v GS Indagaburezi (Rwanda)

Handball

Girls’ semi-finals

Rugby 7s

Mbarara (Uganda) v St Peter’s Mumias

Laiser Hill v ASPEKA (Rwanda)

Chavakali v Jinja SS (Uganda)

Mbarara (Uganda) v Laiser Hill

JAM Muhanga (Rwanda) v St Peters Mumias

Hockey

Boys

St Anthony’s v Ntare (Uganda)

Kakungulu (Uganda) v Musingu

Girls

Namagunga (Uganda) v Kerugoya

Old Kampala (Uganda) v Trans Nzoia

Tigoi v Kakungulu (Uganda)