Wiyeta, Highway storm into school games finals
Debutants Highway Secondary are through to the finals after they edged out defending champions St. Mary’s Kitende of Uganda 1-0 to book a spot in the finals.
Andreas Odhiambo gave Highway their sole winning goal.
The 2019 defending champions had beaten Kenya national champions Ebwali 4-0 to kick them out of the tournament.
The Highway team manager and deputy principal Eric Wandavusi couldn’t hide his excitement after their qualification into the finals.
“Yes, this is what we have been looking forward to. We are into the finals. What a journey, what a fight from the boys. We have been hungry and tirelessly worked every game to reach here,” he stated.
Wandabusi added: “This is the first time we are reaching such a level in this tournament. We don’t want to get carried away but my boys know the task ahead of them. We want to bring the title back home after such a long time.”
Highway who finished as the first runners-up in the national championships will now face Kibuli at the finals.
They finished on 10 points in Pool A, picking three wins and a draw to book a spot in the semi-finals.
Post-match penalties
In girls’ football, six times defending champions Wiyeta Girls are through to the finals after they yet again thrashed Dagoretti Mixed Girls 3-0 in the semi-finals played yesterday.
Wiyeta had beaten Dagoretti 5-4 in the post-match penalties in the national championships.
The defending champions will again face off Noa Girls from Uganda in the finals. Wiyeta had beaten Noa 3-0 in their Pool A match.
In volleyball, it was to be an all-Kenyan affair as the defending champions Kwanthanze were to face off Kesogon Girls Secondary in the girls’ finals. By the time of going to press, the match which was to be a repeat of the national finals two weeks ago had not been played.
Kwanthanze were eyeing to cement their status at top of the pyramid in the girls’ volleyball as they seek to add a sixth title in the tournament while Kesogon were intending to avenge the 3-1 (25-20, 17-25, 13-25, 19-25) loss to Kwanthanze in the nationals.
Earlier, Kesogon beat Mkalapa of Tanzania in straight sets of 25-15, 25-17 and 25-17 to guarantee finishing top two in their group. Home girls Mkalapa will take on IPRC Kigali in third place play-offs.
However, Kenya’s long reign in rugby and hockey ended yesterday.
Hanna International School was too good for the Kenyan representatives Koyonzo Secondary School and Butula High School beating them in the round-robin contest to win Uganda’s maiden rugby 7s title with 15 points.
Koyonzo won silver on 12 points as Uganda also bagged the bronze through Jinja Senior School to deny Butula Secondary school a top-three finish.
Kenya also lost the boys’ hockey title after 2019 champions Friends School Kamusinga and former holders St Anthony’s Boys Kitale failed to make it to the final.
The Kenyan girls will have the chance to regain the title as Trans Nzoia Mixed Secondary School take on holders Kakungulu Memorial in the final. Kenyan champions St Mary’s Tachais will battle Nyamagunga Girls in the play-off match.
In basketball, Kenya’s Dr Aggrey Secondary School, who are making a debut at the games, will face Uganda’s Bethel Covenant in today’s semis, as defending champions Buddo Secondary School (Uganda) play Rwandese side Lycee De Kigali.
Kenyan representatives in girls’ basketball, Kaya Tiwi Secondary School and Olympic High School failed in their bid to reach the semis.
