Coastal girls lead Archbishop Njenga and Nginda in hunt for title.
After three years of waiting, Kwale Girls’ will make their maiden appearance at the East African Secondary Schools games in Musanze, Rwanda, next week.
The newly crowned national champions will lead Kenya’s onslaught in the absence of last year’s champions Wiyeta as they seek to bring back the trophy. Kwale alongside 2011 national winners Archbishop Njenga and Nginda Girls will battle for regional glory against hosts Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania.
For the coastal girls who are currently basking in national glory, team coach Musaka Amboko said, it has been a journey of humility.
“In 2014, my girls finished third at the Coast regional games behind St John’s and Waa Girls. I approached my friend Joseph Oyoo, who was then coaching former national champions St Johns Kaloleni and requested him to assist me in scouting talent. By December, we had identified 12 talented class eight players. I briefed the then principal Madam Bahati who authorised their admission in January 2015.
“I also requested the principal to consider offering Oyoo a coaching job due to his proven track record. An agreement was reached and that’s how we worked with him in coming up with a strong team after three years. In 2015 my team made up of form ones shocked many by reaching at the Coast region finals before losing 6-0 to John’s,” Amboko said.
It took intense training and determination for them to ascend to the pinnacle of national under-19 football charts.
And Amboko is upbeat that his players have what it takes to win the regional title when the games start in Musanze next week.
The team is pooled alongside Makongo from Tanzania, St Noa from Uganda and home girls GS Nyange in Group B.
Last year, Amboko steered his team to the national games in Nyeri but performed poorly. Amboko said they received support from the new principal.
The team won the national title after beating Bishop Njenga 4-1 in the final in Eldoret last weekend to qualify for the East Africa games.
Elizabeth Katungwa who emerged as the top scorer in Eldoret, Caren AWuor and Mercy Aluoch are some of the players Amboko will bank on for victory in Rwanda.
Meanwhile, Rift Valley emerged the overall winners at the Kenya Primary Schools Sports Association for Learners with Special Needs Ball Games at Nakuru Boys High School yesterday.
Rift Valley amassed 69 points to win the Visually Impaired category ahead of Central 63, Nyanza 60, Western 59, Coast 55, Eastern 47, North Eastern 35 and Nairobi 34 points.
Rift Valley also lifted the Deaf Blind and Visually Impaired (VI) overall titles.
Nyanza were runners up after scooping both the Mentally Handicapped and Atticism titles besides emerging runners up and third in a number of disciplines.
