Action during the Nyanza region finals between St Mary's Yala (in black) and Agoro Sare/ANGWENYI GICHANACoach Paul Odok believes Nyanza regional secondary school boys’ 3x3 basketball champions, Agoro Sare, have what it takes to clinch the national title.
Agoro Sare dethroned St Mary’s Yala at the Nyanza region championships with a hard-fought 13–12 victory at Homa Bay High last month. The win served as sweet revenge for Agoro Sare, who had lost the 5x5 basketball title to Yala during the Term One games following an appeal.
“Agoro Sare are among the favourites to lift the national title. Both Agoro Sare and Yala have talented, experienced players, and the level of competition at the Nyanza regional championships was exceptionally high,” said Odok.
Odok’s target is to qualify for the Federation of East Africa School Sports Association (FEASSA) Games, scheduled to take place from August 12–23 in Morogoro, Tanzania. Agoro Sare previously represented Kenya at the 2024 FEASSA Games in Mbale, Uganda.
“We want to return to FEASSA. At the nationals, we will take it one game at a time,” added Odok, who has guided Agoro Sare to two Nyanza regional titles.
He emphasised that competing on the national stage provides players with invaluable exposure and a platform to be scouted by local clubs and national junior teams.
“In Nyanza, we have talented players who are more than capable of earning spots in local and national youth setups,” he observed.
Meanwhile, defending champions Sigalame return to the fold in Thika. Last year, Sigalame defeated Pioneer School 21–17 in Kakamega to claim the national crown.
In the girls’ division, Asumbi Girls’ and Tuk Jowi will represent the Nyanza region at the national showpiece. Asumbi defeated Tuk Jowi 22–20 in overtime to secure the regional title at Homa Bay High School.
The top three teams will qualify for the FEASSA Games, which feature school teams from Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan.
The national championships will be hosted at the M-Pesa Foundation Academy in Thika, Kiambu county, running from tomorrow (August 2) through to Thursday.
Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) secretary general David Ngugi confirmed that all preparations are complete ahead of the games, which will serve as the selection trials for the upcoming FEASSA Games.
