SCHOOLS: Coast schools ready for regional action in Tana River

Dr Aggrey School basketball during Kenya Secondary Schools sports Association basketball semifinal match Term One games in Machakos County. April 12, 2024. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

For the first time, the Coast secondary schools regional games will be held in Tana River County.

After a thorough inspection by the association's top brass led by chairperson Zuhura Hussein, the county will host the Coast region Term Two games.

The team visited the host villages at Hola Boys High School and Mau Mau Secondary School.

"Preparations for the games are almost complete and we have given Tana River County a clean bill of health to host the 2024 Coast region Term Two games," said Zuhura.

"This will be the first time the county will be hosting the games since the inauguration of the school games and the local organising committee is ready for the games to be held from July 10-14," said the chairperson.

Briefing the media after the inspection exercise, Zuhura said girls will be accommodated at Mau Mau Secondary School, while Hola Boys will host the boys teams.

"When I took office, my main focus was to give all the six counties that form Coast region a chance to host the school games. This time round, teams have the chance to see what Tana River County has to offer," she added.

The six counties will compete in football, rugby, basketball, volleyball, netball and racquet games.

Mombasa's Serani and Kombani from Kwale are the boys and girls football defending champions, while Kaya Tiwi, also from Kwale County, will be back to defend the netball crown.

Mombasa County games, which were postponed last week, are expected to be held from Thursday to Saturday in Jomvu Sub County, while Kilifi games run from Thursday to Saturday at Malindi High School.

Serani coach Swaleh 'Sunda' Abdalla said he is ready to defend his title.

"My boys have set eyes on the East Africa Games, but we have to win both the Mombasa and Coast region titles before moving to the national games stage," said Abdalla.

At the regional games, Kaya Tiwi are tipped to retain both girls 3x3 basketball and netball titles.

In boys' football, the doors are wide open after Dr Aggrey from Taita Taveta and Shimba Hills from Kwale made it to the regional games after winning their county games titles.