East Africa School Games: Kenyan boys relinquish rugby and hockey titles

Kenya's Koyonzo in rugby action against Hannah International School of Uganda during the East Africa School Games in Arusha on September 20, 2022. [Courtesy]

\Kenya's long reign in rugby and hockey ended yesterday as they surrendered the titles as this year's games entered the homestretch in Arusha, Tanzania.

Kenya's failure to field rugby 15s teams saw Uganda have a field day competing among themselves with their only challenger Elerai School of Tanzania finishing fourth as they secured a top three finish. Namilyango College which had for many years suffered in the hands of Kenyans lifted the trophy while Buddo Secondary School and Makerere took silver and bronze medals.

Hanna International School was too good for Kenyan representatives Koyonzo Secondary School and Butula High School beating them in the round robin contest to win Uganda's maiden rugby 7s title.

Koyonzo fell short and relinquished the title Upper Hill School won in 2019 at the same venue. Koyonzo won silver as Uganda also bagged the bronze courtesy of Jinja Senior School to deny Butula a podium finish.

Hanna finished top of the standings with 15 points, three more than Koyonzo, while Jinja had nine points.

Despite Ugandans bagging the elusive rugby titles, they were unhappy saying they would have been happier if they had beaten Kenyan giants Laiser Hill Academy, Kakamega High, Upper Hill and St Peter's Mumias who tormented them for many years.

"We have won but we could have celebrated more should we have beaten the likes of Laiser Hill and Kakamega High, where are these teams? What happened to them? Their absence has denied us a perfect celebration," one of the Ugandan coaches said.

Kenya also lost the boys hockey title after 2019 champions Friends School Kamusinga and former holders St Anthony's Boys Kitale failed to make it to the final.

The Kenyan boys were outwitted by Ugandan rivals Kakungulu Memorial and Tanzania's Arusha International School Meru and will today battle it out for the bronze medal.

The Kenyan girls will have the chance to regain the title as Trans Nzoia Mixed Secondary School take on holders Kakungulu Memorial in the final. Kenyan champions St Mary's Tachais will battle Nyamagunga Girls in the play-off match.