SCHOOL: Kenyan teams ready to pick up the pieces and start again

Song, dance, tears of joy and sorrow marked the final day of the 2024 Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) games that ended on Monday evening in Mbale City and Bukedea District, Uganda.

After 10 days of battling, new champions were crowned in various sports even as last year’s winners watched in disbelief as their crowns went other ways.

Kenya’s hopes of reclaiming the overall title were once again crashed by the Ugandans who carried the day after winning 13 gold, 14 silver and 11 bronze medals.

Though this was Kenya’s best outing since the games resumed in 2022 after a two-year break due to the Covid-19 pandemic, they were once again forced to settle for second best.

Laiser Hill lost 51-54 to Amus College in boys' basketball, while Butere were edged out 1-0 in girls' football by champions St Noa also from Uganda denying Kenya the overall gong. 

Kenya came close to dethroning the Ugandans but fell short after securing 11 gold, 10 silver and six bronze medals.

Rwanda finished third with one gold, one silver and three bronze medals while Burundi, who returned to the games after years of absence, won gold in boys’ volleyball.

The Burundians finished ahead of Tanzania despite having the smallest contingent in the championship.

Uganda also won the primary schools contest with nine medals, while Kenya and Tanzania finished second and third.

Kenya and Uganda won three gold medals each, but were separated by a silver medal, whereas Tanzania won one gold, four silver and two bronze.

Kenya proved that it’s the region’s athletics powerhouse as it dominated both the secondary and primary schools’ categories.

The two days of the track and field events at Amus College Stadium were a spectacle to watch as Kenyans showed their peers how it’s done.

Kenya’s Daniel Wasike and Rwanda’s Magnifique Umutesiwase, who triumphed in 100m, 200m and medley races, were voted MVPs in boys’ and girls’ athletics respectively.

Kenyan boys topped the standings with 248 points while the girls garnered 209 points two less than Uganda as Kenya secured the overall athletics title.  

Kenyans came, saw and conquered, but it was 12-year-old Gloria Jebogogo who won the hearts of athletics enthusiasts.

With eyes on the prize, Jebogogo though diminutive in size could not be cowed by her opponents as she competed in girls' 1500m primary schools’ category.

Jebogogo’s focus and confidence made Ugandans and Tanzanians forget their own joined Kenyans and the rest of East Africa in cheering her on.

She clocked four minutes 52.2 seconds to finish second behind compatriot Ivine Jepleting who won the race in 4:48.9.

Jebogogo said that she aspires to follow in the footsteps of Kenyan stars such as women 1500m Olympics champion and world record holder Faith Kipyegon. 

“I also want to be successful and make a name for myself in future. I admire many Kenyan athletes but just like my peers, Faith Kipyegon inspires me the most,” Jebogogo said.

Kenya may have missed the overall title after Laiser Hill Academy and Butere Girls High School lost their respective boys' basketball and girls' football finals to Ugandans, but it turned out to be one of the most successful outings for the Kenyans.

They wrestled the rugby 15s and boys’ hockey titles from the Ugandans.

All Saints Embu and Musingu High School bagged their maiden East Africa rugby 15s and boys’ hockey titles to end the year on a high.

St Charles Lwanga won silver in boys’ hockey while former East Africa champions St Anthony’s Kitale finished out of the medal bracket for the first time in many years after losing 1-0 to Ntare School in the third-place play-off.

St Joseph’s Girls led Kenya to a clean sweep in girls’ hockey. They dethroned fellow Kenyans Nyamira Girls who finished second, while national champions Tigoi Girls finished third.

Kenyan teams ensured that the rugby 7s title, which Koyonzo Secondary School won last year, returned to Kenya.

Vihiga Boys routed national champions Bwake High School 26-0 to win their first East Africa trophy.

St Joseph’s had a field day bagging their second trophy as they were crowned the inaugural girls rugby 7s champions after beating compatriots Kinale Girls 8-5 in sudden death.

It was sweet revenge for 2023 national girls’ volleyball champions Kesogon Secondary School as they beat seven-time East Africa holders Kwanthanze Secondary School in straight sets to snatch the trophy.

However, Kenya lost the boys' volleyball title to Burundi’s LT Saint Luc after national champions Cheptil lost in the semis. Last year’s winners Namwela and Hospital Hill were eliminated at the group stage.

Kenyans also excelled in racquet games. The Kenyan boys topped the standings despite losing the gold medal after garnering more points than Uganda.

They won silver in boys' badminton and bronze in the girls’ category.

International School Sport Federation (ISF) president Laurent Petrynka graced the games showing the global body’s interest in the East Africa games.