Schools games: North Eastern region fails to hold their finals

Mwinyi Hamadai (left) of Tononoka and James Mwamburi of Mwavumbo in action. [Omondi Onyango, Standard]

Uncertainty has hit North Eastern Secondary Schools Sports Association after they failed to stage their regional games to pick teams for the national games that start on Thursday, in Nakuru.

The region's Term Two games that were to start on Sunday and conclude today, were called off due to financial constraints.

Both Wajir and Mandera held their respective county games, but Garissa county did not stage their games. The three counties were to converge at Wajir Boys' and Girls' secondary schools for their regional games.

However, due to lack of funds, the games were cancelled and uncertainty has hit the region as they stand to be locked out of the national games. Efforts to get a comment from the North Eastern Secondary Schools Sports Association Secretary Bishar Sabunley bore no fruits. Wajir Boys High School, who won the Wajir county games, have said they are ready to travel to Nakuru for the games to represent the region.

Other teams that won at the county level were also making frantic efforts to raise money and travel to Nakuru.

Other regions selected their representatives at the weekend and teams are expected in Nakuru on Thursday for the games that run to September 13.

Winners will qualify for the East Africa games, which will be held on September 14 to 24 in Arusha, Tanzania.

At the same time, Timbila Secondary School from Taita Taveta County became the first team to win the newly introduced 3x3 basketball discipline.

The school team captained by Robert Muchiri benefited from the towering Paulino Mangar, Akol Kon and Ibrahim Said to win all their matches.

They beat Aga Khan Academy Mombasa 16-13 before humbling Vitengeni of Kilifi County 22-0 in a one-sided encounter. In other matches, Baptist of Mombasa defeated Vitengeni 21-5, while Aga Khan beat Baptist 9-7.