Schools: Giants Kakamega, Laiser Hill, St Anthony’s advance

Dagoreti School's Derrick Wandera of Nairobi is Challenged by Inol Akol of Laiser Hill School during Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Term 1 National games at Embu University grounds. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

FSK and St Peter’s Mumias become first big names to exit after falling in their respective counties.

The 2020 Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) Term one games are here and as usual the season promises surprises as underdogs crash giants leaving them hurting and leaking their wounds.  

With most county competitions already held, last year’s East Africa boys’ hockey champions Friends School Kamusinga (FSK) and rugby 7s giants St Peter’s Mumias were the biggest casualties at the weekend after being ousted in Bungoma and Kakamega County.

It was end of the road for FSK who had finished second at the 2019 national games as they relinquished their Western Region and East Africa crowns.

FSK failed to break the jinx of inconsistency that has been haunting them for many years falling to eventual Bungoma County champions and rivals St Mary’s Kibabii by a solitary goal in the semis.

Not even home advantage would save them from going down once again just like they did in 2017 having excelled in 2016 winning both the national and East Africa titles.

After excelling in 2016 they spent 2017 and 2018 in the cold but returned stronger last year to finish second nationally and reclaiming the East Africa gong after dethroned archrivals St Anthony’s Kitale in Arusha, Tanzania.

However, now they are out and will not defend their trophy in August when Kenya hosts the games in Kakamega.

A disappointed FSK coach Godfrey Muleyi said they needed to work on consistency because their current trend is worrying.

“We are back to the drawing board and we want to find a way of dealing with the issue of inconsistency because it is sad that after excelling we are always eliminated at the lower level the following year. Maybe we let it get into our heads so much that it affects our concentration.”

St Peter’s Mumias were also send packing and will not be at this year’s national or East Africa games. The 2015 national champions bowed out in the quarters after going down to Koyonzo who were later crowned champions after beating St Ignatius Mukumu in the final.

Rugby 15s top guns and reigning East Africa champions Kakamega High School, St Anthony’s Kitale, Laiser Hill Academy, St Luke’s Kimilili and St Cecilia Misikhu are some of last year’s national champions who retained their county titles and are still on course to winning this year’s trophies.

St Anthony’s edged out Bwake Boys 1-0 to firm grip on Trans Nzoia County title while former national and East Africa champions Trans Nzoia won the girls trophy.

Kimilili, Moi and Misikhu reigned supreme in Bungoma retaining the boys handball and girls hockey trophies. East Africa girls champions Moi Girls Kamusinga extended their handball dominance.

Kajiado County sports powerhouse Laiser Hill ruled in basketball and rugby 7s while national handball champions St Joseph’s Kirandich stamped authority in Nakuru County. Focus now shifts to regional games.