As several counties grapple with endless grievances and appeals, the case is different in the Coast Region as county champions and lucky finalists begin their quest for tickets to this year’s Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National Term One games.
The games begin Thursday at different venues in Mpeketoni, Lamu County. At stake are bragging rights as well as a place at the national games set for July 28 to August 2 in Kakamega for champions in football and volleyball for both boys and girls and netball and finalists in rugby 7s and basketball 3X3. Composite teams will also be selected to represent the region in tennis, table tennis, and badminton.
New champions will be crowned in most events after last year’s winners failed to qualify for the regional games.
In girls’ football, newly crowned Kwale County champions Mwanambeyu Girls High School will be on a mission to return the trophy that was won by their Kombani Secondary School compatriots last year. Mwanambeyu won the title after thrashing Shimba Hills 5-0 in the final. They had earlier eliminated Kombani in the semis.
They begin their campaign in Group A against home girls Witu Mjini Secondary School before taking on Kachochochori Secondary School from Kilifi in their second match. They play their last pool match tomorrow morning against Taita Taveta’s Kajire Girls Secondary School.
In Group B, Shimba Hills will lock horns with home side Mokowe Secondary School, while Mombasa champions Moi Forces will play Tana River’s Minhaj Secondary School.
In the boys’ contest, defending champions Tononoka Secondary School from Mombasa will begin their defence in Group A against Kiunga Secondary School. However, they will have scores to settle against Taita Taveta’s Dr Aggrey, who denied them a deserved ticket to the national games last year.
Tononoka had finished second behind Dr Aggrey, who were found guilty of fielding ineligible players and stripped of the regional scores. However, it was a little too late for Tononoka since the national games were over and Dr Aggrey had represented the region.
In Group B, former titleholders Serani Secondary School will play Mokowe, while Jaribuni Secondary School will tackle Kipao Secondary School.
In volleyball, the boys and girls trophies are up for grabs after last year’s champions, Milalulu Secondary School and Vyambani, were sent packing. Hosts Mpeketoni Boys will be banking on home advantage when they launch their title hunt in Group A against Jaribuni and Bangale Secondary School later in the day. Taru Boys will play Bangale and Jaribuni.
In Group B, Mwaluphamba Secondary School will clash with Kenyatta High School Mwatate, whereas Moi Forces will square it out with Lake Kenyatta. The winners of opening matches will be out to secure semi-final slots in the afternoon when Moi Forces face off with Mwaluphamba while Mwatate and Lake clash in the battle of the Kenyattas.
Coast netball and basketball powerhouse Kaya Tiwi will be out to exert dominance in the sports. Kaya Tiwi has dominated netball for years and have also won all the basketball 3X3 since the 2022 introduction to the schools’ calendar.