Ng'iya Girls' basketball coach Naftali Ambala gives instructions to his team/ANGWENYI GICHANA

Ng’iya Girls' coach Naftali Ambala has backed the school’s basketball team to replicate the 3x3 basketball team performance by lifting the Federation of East African Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) title.

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Ng’iya lifted the FEASSA 3x3 basketball title in Kakamega, and Ambala believes the 5x5 would go all the way and bag this year’s title in Morogoro, Tanzania.

“All the girls who won the FEASSA title are still with us. They are prepared to compete at each level and win. Our target is the FEASSA title,” said Ambala, who is also the school's games director.

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He said their hockey team is also ready to compete at the regional level once again after finishing third in last year's showpiece in Kakamega. “Our teams are gaining experience at the East Africa level and are ready to compete at the top level,” noted Ambala.

Ambala spoke ahead of the third edition of the Hellen Masengeli Girls’ tournament this weekend at Ng’iya Girls High School. The tournament’s theme is ‘Fostering unity, healthy competition, and mental wellness through sports.’’

  He said the tournament has attracted top teams, among them national basketball champions Butere Girls and hockey queens Tigoi Girls.

Ambala added that the 2026 Africa Cup for Club Champions, Kisumu Lakers, Kisumu Queens, Eregi TTC, Maseno University, and St Brigid’s Kitale have also confirmed participation.

“We expect a huge turnout of 50 teams. We shall use the tournament as a curtain raiser for the sub-county games, which will kick off on Saturday next week,” remarked Ambala. He added: “Tigoi and Butere Girls will give our teams a good test. These are teams we regularly meet at the national and East Africa levels.”

Ambala said the tournament was started two years ago in honour of the school's Chief Principal, Hellen Masengeli, who turned around the institution’s fortunes in academics and co-curricular activities.

The tournament will feature hockey, netball, basketball, volleyball, handball, chess, table tennis, and badminton.  "Winning teams and individual players will get trophies, medals, playing kit, and certificates," Ambala added.  Participating teams will pay Sh2, 500 and Sh400 per participant for racquet and board games.