Former national secondary school volleyball champions Cheptil girls and regulars Chemase Boys will be unleashing their best squad as Rift valley Secondary school games kick off today (Tuesday) at Baringo Boys high school with 14 counties battling for a one ticket of national championships set for Kisumu next month.
Cheptil, who won bronze last year during national championships in Eldoret, will be hoping to retain their regional title when they begin the championships in pool D alongside AIC Moi from Samburu.
The Nandi based school has dominated both regional and national and head coach Stephen Mutai is optimistic of defending their title as well as reclaiming their national title after losing to Chesogon in last year championships.
“We lost last year the national title but we are hoping to improve this year. After finishing third and second in 2018 and 2017, it will be our time to showcase real talents,” said Mutai.
In 2018, Cheptil lost to Chesogon in the semifinal but went ahead to claim the third position after thrashing Western representative Bishop Sulumet in the play-offs. And finished second after losing the finals to Kwanthanze in 2017.
“Both teams have booked for national championships and being the last region to host such championships, it is a disadvantage but we will do our best,” added Mutai.
Chemise boys will be setting up revenge against St. Anthony’s boys High school Kitale in the boys’ under 20 soccer match.
School head coach Francis Sigei said they have been bullied enough and it is their time to set a good revenge.
“In the last two years, we have been bullied by St. Anthony but we want to ensure that we win this time. We want to make it to the nationals,” said Sigei.
Last year, St. Anthony and Chemase just like this years have been pooled together leading pool B alongside Samburu’s Naloto. At the pool stages, the two rivals played out to a one all draw before Trans Trans Nzoia based Kitale winning the finals through spot-kicks.
“We can’t be on the losing end every time we play Kitale for this long. We are in the same pool and we hope to meet at the finals and win the title as our target is to play at the nationals not at the regions. We have to work extra hard to claim the title,” added Sigei saying that the school through their principal Martin Masika have supported the school very well.