Hockey girls and rugby 15s will have new champions when this year’s Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association Term One National Games starts on Tuesday morning at the Hill School, Eldoret.
And organizers of the championships led by Secretary General David Ngugi and Chairman Kipchumba Maiyo are optimistic that their journey to East Africa has started as they eye to win the overall title.
Reigning hockey girls, St Mary’s Tachasis Girls were eliminated during the Rift Valley championships hosted at the same venue two weeks ago.
Tachasis lost the title to St Joseph’s Kitale during Rift valley games in the semifinals in penalty flicks during a one-all draw in normal time. The Kitale based school, went ahead to beat Afraha Girls from Nakuru to earn the national slot.
In rugby 15s, champions Kakamega High School were bundled out during Western championships held in Busia.
But the majority of schools will be defending their titles at the championships.
According to the fixtures released, Dr Aggrey High School (boys’ basketball), Kaya Tiwi Girls High School (girls’ basketball), St Anthony’s Boys High School, Kitale, Hospital Hill High School (boys’ handball) and Moi Girls Secondary School, Kamusinga (girls’ handball) will be defending their titles.
Ngugi said all the venues are in a good position ready for the games where top schools from eight regions will be battling for top honours.
He also outlined a number of venues to be used by the schools for various events where Hill School remain the main venue.
Ngugi said that Hill School will host hockey and handball while Nova International School will stage basketball.
“We have moved swimming to Nova then rugby 15s will be staged at the Eldoret Sports Club while Moi Girls, Eldoret will also host athletics and cross country,” he said.