Defending champions Kisii School will be aiming to extend their dominance when the Nyanza Region Secondary Schools Sports Association (NRSSSA) Term One games get underway at Kisumu School from March 17 to 21.
The Federation of East African Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) rugby 15s holders will be chasing a fourth consecutive regional title, but face stiff competition from traditional rivals, including St Mary’s School, Yala, Maseno School and other regional heavyweights.
The Term One championships will feature hockey, basketball, swimming, rugby 15s, handball and athletics, bringing together the best secondary school teams from across the Nyanza region.
According to a circular issued by Allan Omondi on behalf of the Regional Director of Education, all six counties—Kisumu, Siaya, Nyamira, Kisii, Migori and Homa Bay—must conclude their county championships by March 6, while sub-county competitions should be wrapped up by February 28. The regional swimming gala will be held on March 14 at Aga Khan Primary School.
Omondi noted that eligibility for this year’s Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) competitions is restricted to students born on or after September 1, 2006. “All participants must be uploaded on the KSSSA portal,” he added.
In hockey, Ng’iya Girls and Our Lady of Mercy Ringa Boys will be out to defend their regional crowns, while Kadika Girls and Manyatta High School will seek to retain their handball titles. Asumbi Girls and Sawagongo Boys are the defending champions in basketball. Kisumu City will also host the national Term One KSSSA Games from April 5 to 13.
Meanwhile, as teams fine-tune preparations for the regional championships, several high-profile tournaments have been lined up across the region.
The annual Yala Invitational Tournament and the Asumbi Complex Open Tournament will be staged this weekend at St Mary’s School, Yala, and at Asumbi Girls High School and Asumbi Teachers Training College, respectively. A
According to games coordinator Peter Ojwala, the tournaments will feature football, hockey, basketball, handball, netball, volleyball, rugby 15s, rugby 7s and racquet games.
The Yala Invitational is open to secondary and junior schools, while the Asumbi tournament caters for colleges and clubs. The third edition of the Kisii School Annual Open Tournament will be held on January 31 and February 1.
The school’s Head of Department for Games, Denis Omwansa, said more than 50 schools are expected to participate. The tournament is sponsored by Nyanza Vibez Sports House, ICEA Lion, Coca-Cola and Indomie. Maseno School will host the annual Amadi Open Tournament on the same dates.
Director of Sports Caleb Olang’o said more than 100 teams are expected to take part. “We expect several regional and national champions to come to Maseno. This is where powerhouses test themselves before the KSSSA calendar starts,” said Olang’o.
The fourth edition of the Ringa Annual Open Tournament will also be staged on January 31 and February 1, according to the school’s Head of Department for Games, David Asewe.
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