Kisumu Governor Nyong'o to honor East Africa champions Nyamira Girls in Ratta

Nyamira Girls hockey players and Tunza Sports officials celebrate with the East Africa title.[Courtesy]

Kisumu Governor Prof Peter Anyang Nyong'o will on Tuesday celebrate Nyamira Girls High School at Ratta Primary School in Seme after their feat of winning the East Africa hockey girls' title in Rwanda two weeks ago.

Nyamira Girls won the 2023 Federation of East Africa Secondary School Sports Association (FEASSSA) hockey girls title after finishing top of the seven-team round-robin standings with 16 points.

Nyamira did not only win casually but in a remarkable fashion, remaining unbeaten throughout the entire tournament.

The two-time national champions saw off Kakungulu Memorial 2-0, Western Region champions Tigoi Girls 2-0, St Mary's Namagunga 4-0, Gayaza High School 8-0, Bweranyangi Girls 5-0 and a 0-0 draw against Rift Valley champions St Joseph Girls Kitale.

The journey to this historic victory saw them rise through various ranks, starting from being the Siaya County champions, progressing to conquer the Nyanza Region, and ultimately emerging victorious as the KSSSA (Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association) National champions.

Interestingly, over 10 players currently playing for Nyamira Girls come from Ratta in Seme where they are trained by a non-profit organization for sports called Tunza Sports.

Speaking to Standard Sports, Kisumu Governor Nyong'o said he was excited about the performance of Ratta-trained hockey girls in the just concluded East Africa school games.

Nyong'o hailed the Tunza Foundation for training the girls to master hockey from a very young age. He also thanked Nyamira Girls High School in Siaya, for allowing the girls to exploit their talents.

"These girls are a good example of how ability, talent, and interest can ignite the highest potential in our young people in a schooling system that nurtures personal potential within teamwork," said Prof Nyong'o.

Tunza is an organization centered not only on sports alone but focuses on empowering young girls through education.

The foundation is ingeniously harnessing the power of sports, particularly hockey, as a gateway to academic empowerment.

While hockey predominantly thrives in urban centers across Kenya, Tunza Sports chose a different path.

It ventured into the rural heartlands, where opportunities are scarce for children, to unearth hidden talent and potential. The foundation's approach isn't just about training on the field, it delves into homes, forging connections with families to understand their needs.

By assisting a single child from a family, Tunza Sports aims to break the cycle of poverty within rural communities.