Kwanthanze out to retain title, Moi Girls battle Kibuli

IN MUSANZE, RWANDA

Girls’ volleyball champions Kwanthanze of Kenya will on Saturday renew hostilities with home side GS Indagaburezi in the final encounter as the Brookside East Africa Secondary School Games reach the penultimate stage here.

Kenyan girls’ handball champions Moi Girls Kamusinga will also look to reclaim the title when they take on champions Kibuli of Uganda in the final. Boys’ football semis will also be on show as Kakamega High School battle Rwandese side LDK, while Buddo Secondary School face B.S Kimanya in an all-Ugandan semi-final.

Boys' football defending champions St Mary’s Kitende also of Uganda were locked out of the semi-finals after finishing third in Pool A. Kwanthanze, who are gunning for a fourth title, face familiar foes in GS Indagaburezi. The sides have clashed in three finals with the Kenyans winning two of them, before the Rwandese exacted revenge in 2015 in Huye, Rwanda to deny Kwanthanze a hat-trick of titles.

Their fourth clash on Saturday looks to be closely contested and Kwanthanze coach Justin Kigwari has demanded more from his charges, who needed five sets to overcome compatriots Cheptil in the semis.

“We cannot afford any lapses against Indagaburezi. They are a top side who are also hungry for the title just like us. We just need to have a good start, avoid any mistakes and believe we can do it,” the coach said on Friday. Victory will see them move to four titles, two behind Lugulu Girls, who hold the record for most titles.

Cheptil, who also finished third last year, will battle IPRC Kigali in the bronze medal match.

In girls' handball, Kamusinga will also seek to gain a measure of revenge on the champions, who beat them in last year’s final in Gulu, Uganda.

The Kenyan champions are looking for their third gong after previously triumphing in 2013 (Lira) and 2016 Eldoret. Kamusinga overcame compatriots Sega Girls 22-21 in Thursday’s semi-final.

In boys’ football, Kakamega - fondly referred to as the Green Commandos - will be wary of an LDK side that locked out record 12-time regional winners St Mary’s Kitende out of the semis.

Kakamega coach Brenden Mwinamo believes they will be carried by the disappointment of last year’s semi-final loss to Jinja Secondary School as they seek to reach a maiden final.

“We find ourselves in another semi-final and I think we have learnt from past mistakes and the lads want to make things right and reach the final,” Mwinamo said.

In the absence of Kitende, all four semi-finalists will fancy their chances of reaching Saturday's final. Henry Atola and Evans Odhiambo will lead the Kenyan attack with skipper Chris Alpha Onyango and Joshua Otieno anchoring the midfield.

With Buddo taking on B.S Kimanya in the other semi, Uganda are assured of a team in the final.