Cardinal Otunga High School, Mosocho, celebrate after winning the Nyanza region title/ANGWENYI GICHANAChief Principal Ezekiel Okeyo said the school will mobilise teachers, alumni, the board of management and students to raise funds for the team’s air tickets ahead of the championships, which will be held at MPesa Academy in Kiambu from July 28 to August 1.
“This is not a mean achievement. You have made the Cardinal Otunga fraternity proud, and that is why we have decided that you will fly to Nairobi when you go for the nationals,” said Okeyo.
He praised the team for its discipline, resilience and exciting brand of rugby throughout the regional championships. “You were disciplined, resilient and worked hard to lift the title. You can now savour the moment. We also want to dominate in other disciplines and in academics because Cardinal Otunga is a giant,” he said while receiving the team.
Cardinal Otunga are debuting the national championships in 2016 after ending a 10-year absence. Head coach Edwin Metobo said the team’s focus has already shifted to winning both the national and Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) titles.
“We want to pick up from where we left off at the regional championships. We are going to Kiambu for the national title before heading to Tanzania to challenge for the East Africa trophy. The celebrations following the regional triumph are over,” said Metobo.
The coach vowed that Cardinal Otunga intends to establish itself as the dominant rugby force in the Nyanza region. “I want to promise that this is not our last trophy. We want to dominate rugby in Nyanza,” he added.
Cardinal Otunga secured the regional title with a commanding 24-0 victory over Friends School Anjego in the final at Homa Bay High School. Despite the defeat, Anjego also booked a place at the national championships.
Other schools that qualified include Friends School Bokoli and Butula Boys (Western), Upper Hill School and Nairobi School (Nairobi), Kwale School and Tononoka (Coast), Kitondo School and All Saints Embu (Eastern), Laiser Hill Academy and St Anthony’s Boys, Kitale (Rift Valley), and Njabini, Kamuiru Boys, Kirangari High and Mutige High (Central).
A new national rugby sevens champion will be crowned this year after defending champions St Peter’s Mumias were eliminated during the Western Region championships.
