Kapsabet Boys basketball team dedicated their opening victory to the departed teacher and and student when Rift valley Secondary Schools Sports Association (RVSSSA) kicked off today at the Kapsabet Boys high school grounds.
The two, Japheth Mwanjala, the student and Kennedy Mwaje, the teacher died in a road accident last weekend forcing the organizers of the championships to postpone the championships to today.
In the court, hosts Kapsabet defeated Uasin Gishu High School 51-45 in their opening pool A match with head coach Maurice Ouma saying the victory was good for the boys, in honour of the teacher who was part of the coaching team.
“The boys gave it all in remembering their coach who died in a road accident. He was a great man in the coaching staff and the victory is the only way we can offer him,” said Ouma.
The national wheelchair basketball coach said that the teacher, where he is, is happy that the knowledge he imparted in the players has paid off with hopes of reaching the nationals.
“He was a great member of the coaching and he wished that we reach the nationals which we are hoping to do so as a team,” he said.
In the same court, Elgeyo Marakwet’s Chebara High school silence Kericho’s Kabianga 23-19.
In girls’ basketball, Laiser Hill and Kipsigis girls from Kajiado and Narok counties triumphed against Kaeris (Turkana)and Maasai Mara (Narok) with 49-12 and 40-09 respectively.
Seven times national hockey champions St Anthony’s Kitale started their title defence on a high note, beating Elgeyo Marakwet’s St Patrick’s Iten 4-0.
The Kevin Lugalua coached side scored through linton Liyombe, who bagged a hat-trick with Kelvin Onyango scoring one.
Still at kapsabet, Jomo Kenyatta, Tengecha and Entarara recorded victories in boys’ hockey. Nakuru’s Kenyatta beat Nandi’s Kipsigak 2-0 with Stephen Kariuki and Gregory kariuki netting in the 32nd and 48th minutes.
Two goals from Kelvin Kiprop earned Tengecha from Kericho a 4-1 win over Tenwek of Baringo. Kiprop opened the score in the 4th minute before John Koya leveled for Tenwek in the 21st minute. However, Griffin Ongeri doubled the score in the 37th minute with Kiprop earning a brace in the 39th minute before Cleophas Kiplang’at sealed the 4-1 victory in the 48th minute.
In girls’ hockey, Kajiado’s Entarara were 2-0 winners over Sosiot from Kericho with goals Sofia Naipanoi (42) and Lucy Simalot (46) while Nakuru’s Bahat Girls beat Mogotio from Baringo 3-1. Janet Yator netted a brace for Bahati in the 22nd and 53rd minute with Quinter Bowen scoring the opener in the 2nd minute minute.
Regional chairman Patrick Kipkenda, directed that all the matches played in each venue should observe a moment of silence to honor the two departed souls..
“As a way of expressing our heartfelt condolences to our host ,We have to honor these two important people who played a critical role in this school by observing a moment of silence before the start of every game in each and every venue that is used,” said Kipkenda.
He added that as much as they are facing a tough moment, their death will not affect the students competing in various disciplines.