Upsets mark this year’s KSSSA Term One games as new champs are crowned

Handball players tussle in a past encounter. The KSSSA Term One games came to a close today with plenty of upsets as new kings in different genres were crowned national champions.

Upsets marked the last day of this year’s Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National Term One games that ended at Machakos School.

New champions were crowned with only Butere Girls High School and Musingu Boys High School retaining their titles.

Last year’s champions Laiser Hill Academy (boys basketball), Hospital Hill (boys handball), Butula Boys High School (rugby 15s) and Nyamira Girls High School (hockey) relinquished their crowns while St Joseph’s Girls High School Kitale failed to make it to the nationals after losing their Rift Valley regional handball title to Mirundiko Baptist Secondary School.

Tigoi had suffered heartbreak in the hands of their opponents year in year out and would always settle for second best but they finally got it right. They beat last year’s winners Nyamira 2-1 in a tightly contested final to lift the trophy. Two quick goals in the first quarter from Trizah Awuor were enough to unsettle Nyamira, who scored a late consolation through Amanda Wamalwa.

Tigoi coach Moses Erima was elated, saying that his efforts had finally come to fruition.

“We have been very consistent at the nationals but this is a very special one because we finally made it happen. My girls played their hearts and I’m glad their efforts paid off,” Erima said.

Eastern Region’s All Saints Embu High School finally got their hands on the rugby 15s title after avenging last year’s final loss to Butula Boys High School, as Dr Aggrey High School from Coast Region secured their second boys’ basketball title after their exploits in 2022.

Dr Aggrey coach Robert Aran was delighted as his side exacted revenge on Nyanza Region’s Agoro Sare High School who had defeated them 54-53 in the preliminary stages.

“We were determined not to lose to them twice and corrected the mistakes that cost us in the first game. We improved on our defence and also cut down on the turnovers and I am pleased with the high energy the boys showed today,” Aran, who is also the school principal, said after their 56-54 win.

“Our objective is to now ensure the East Africa title returns to Kenya after almost a decade. Uganda and Rwanda schools have players who are fitter than us so we will need to find a way of matching that,” he added.

St Luke’s Kimilili Boys High School and Moi Girls Kamusinga Secondary School reclaimed their handball titles respectively.

Butere dug deep to see off three-time winners Buruburu Secondary School 49-43 in the girls’ final and retain the title they won for the first time last year in Eldoret.

Across the rugby pitch, All Saints coach Benson Mwenda could not hide his joy after finally getting the better of his Butula counterpart, Shimenga Livondo. Butula beat All Saints in the group stages as well as last year’s final.

“We trailed for the better part game but made good use of the penalty kicks to turn around the game. I think Butula were a bit overconfident after taking the lead,” he said after they came from behind to win 12-10.

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By our reporter

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