School games: North Eastern teams head to Kisii for nationals

Takaba Boys Secondary School pose for a group photo with their trophy and medals after being crowned football Champions in the region. [Mohamed Saman, Standard]

Takaba Boys High School, Garissa High and Chief Adano Girls High School are among the teams that are headed to Kisii County to represent the region in the annual school games at the national level.

This is after the said schools won in the football, volleyball boys and volleyball girls categories respectively at the provincial level.

The games hosted by the Education Ministry’s Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association in partnership with the Siyad Foundation also saw Sheikh Ali High School win the basketball boys category.

While Hon Diriye Amin won the basketball for girls, Chief Adano also scooped the netball for girls.

Mr Mummad Farah, the KSSSA North Eastern Regional Chairman, expressed his gratitude to the foundation and the Ministry of Education for their support in making the regional games a success.

"We are deeply thankful to the Siyad Foundation and the Ministry of Education for their invaluable support in ensuring the success of these regional games," said Mr Farah.

Mr Farah said the fact that the schools will be participating in the nationals, it marks a significant achievement and showcases the talent and dedication of the students from this area.

“Flying the North Eastern flag high, these teams are set to compete on a national stage, highlighting the region's commitment to excellence in sports and education. The upcoming event in Kisii promises to be a remarkable opportunity for these young athletes to demonstrate their skills and hard work,” said Farah.

The event that took place in the hilly town of Mandera saw the Siyad Foundation provide uniforms to all teams and trophies to all the winners.

The foundation also provided a public address system and supported players with individual awards.

Hon Diriye Amin Girls Secondary School from Wajir received trophies and awards for winning Basketball for Girls. [Mohamed Saman, Standard]

The foundation's founder and CEO Siyad Abdalla Hassan said the main course is to support and nurture talent and also promote peace and cohesion through soccer.

While emphasizing that the foundation's primary goal is to combat radicalisation and engage the youth in sports, Hassan said their main aim is to keep the youth busy and focused on positive activities like sports.

The foundation has a notable history of supporting school games, consistently contributing to the development of youth sports in the region.

This isn't the first time the foundation has stepped in to support such events; they previously backed the Wajir East games, demonstrating their ongoing commitment to fostering athletic talent and providing positive outlets for young people.

In addition to the Wajir East games, the Siyad Foundation has also sponsored several tournaments across Wajir, Garissa, and Mandera counties.

Their sustained efforts in these areas have significantly impacted the local communities, offering numerous opportunities for young athletes to showcase their skills and engage in constructive activities.