Former East Africa Secondary Schools football contenders Itigo Girls are keen to redeem their lost glory at this year’s Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) national games which start today in Kisumu County.
Itigo, the Mau Region representatives will start their regional campaign against Nzoia representative and former East Africa contenders Wiyeta Girls.
Julia Rutto, school’s principal said it was important for the school to redeem its image in football after two years of national absence and compete at the regional games set to be hosted in Eldoret mid August.
“The school has had good reputation in terms of football and that is why we want to redeem our lost glory. We have invested a lot in football that is why our girls do very well,” said Rutto.
She added that after an absence of two years, nothing will stop them from winning the title and going ahead to lift the East Africa title.
Itigo from Nandi County is in pool B alongside Sindo, St. John's Kaloleni and Wiyeta Girls from Lake, Coast and Nzoia regions respectively. Pool A has Nyakach (Lake), Nginda (Aberdare), Kirigara (Highlands) and Olympic from Metropolitan.
Football defending champions Passenga Boys will start their defence against Northern region representatives Samburey Boys. Passenga from Aberdare Region is in pool B with Green Palm (Coast), Laiser Hill (Metropolitan) and Samburey from Northern.
Survived the axe
Debutants Bukembe Boys’ which survived the axe after St. Anthony’s Kitale failed to prove that Bukembe fielded ineligible player will play for the first time at the national games.
Bukembe from Nzoia region will start their match against Barding from Lake Region in pool A, which has Green Palm Academy Cheptenye from Mau, Kathungi and Barding.
Multiple national volleyball champions AIC Kosirai Girls has represented Kenya at the regional games and will kick off the campaign against Soweto Girls in girls' volleyball. Kosirai will fly Mau region flag while Soweto will fly Metropolitan flag.
The two form pool A with Furaha Mixed from Northern and St. Johns Kaloleni from Coast region. Former national champions from Nzoia region Lugulu leads pool B with Ganganga from Highlands, Sega from Lake and Tetu from Aberdare.
Former Regional volleyball champions Malava Boys from Nzoia region is in pool B alongside Metropolitan’s Hospital Hill, Cheptil of Mau and Watheri from Northern.
Pool B has Waa from Coast, Kanyuabora of Highlands, Tetu of Aberdare and Sungora from Northern.
Pools
Football boys
Pool A: Kathungi (Highlands), Barding (Lake), Cheptenye (Mau) and Bukembe (Nzoia).
Pool B: Green Palm Academy (Coast), Samburey (Northern), Laiser Hill (Metropolitan) and Passenga (Aberdare).
Football Girls
Pool A: Nginda Girls (Aberdare), Nyakach (Lake), Kirigara (Highland) and Olympic (Metropolitan).
Pool B: Sindo (Lake), Itigo (Mau), St. Johns Kaloleni (Coast) and Wiyeta (Nzoia) .
Volleyball boys
Pool A: Kanyuabora (Highlands), Chianda (Lake), Waa (Coast) and Tetu (Aberdare).
Pool B: Hospital Hill (Metropolitan), Malava (Nzoia), Cheptil (Mau) and Watheri (Northern).
Volleyball Girls
Pool A: AIC Kosirai (Mau), Furaha Mixed (Northern), Soweto (Metropolitan) and St. Johns Kaloleni (Coast).
Pool B: Lugulu (Nzoia), Ganganga (Highland), Sega (Lake) and Tetu (Aberdare).
Day one fixtures
Football boys: Barding vs Bukembe (10 a.m.) Cheptenye vs Kathungi (12 p.m.), Laiser Hill vs Green Palm Academy (2 p.m.) and Passenga vs Samburey (4 p.m.)
Football girls: Nyakach vs Kirigara (10 a.m.), Olympic vs Sindo (12 p.m.), Wiyeta vs Itigo (2 p.m.) and St. Johns Kaloleni vs Nginda (4 p.m.).
Volleyball
Boys: Waa vs Kathungura (10 a.m.), Tetu vs Sengera (12 p.m.), Cheptil vs Hospital Hill (2 p.m.), Wandari vs Malava (4 p.m.)
Girls: Soweto vs AIC Kosirai (10 a.m.), Furaha Mixed vs St. Johns Kaloleni (12 p.m.), Lugulu vs Sega (2 p.m.) and Ganganga vs Tetu (4 p.m.).
