Anticipation Builds for the 2024 KSSSA National Games in Kisii County
The secondary schools football calendar is almost coming to a close, with the nationals and East Africa games poised to take place in August. Kisii County will be hosting the highly anticipated national Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) games from 4th-9th August.
Initially Kisii county had been stripped off the hosting rights owing to crowd trouble and hooliganism witnessed during Nyanza KSSSA regional games. Kisumu county was set to replace Kisii as the host however after a series of interventions by the relevant stakeholders, Kisii County was reinstated to host this prestigious secondary school championship.
Sports enthusiasts will be camping in different fields within the Kisii town and its environs to cheer their team while in action. The games are set to be played in Gusii stadium, Nyabururu girls, Cardinal Otunga Mosocho and Kisii school. The seven days of sports extravaganza will light up the sports enthusiasts in the county and also boost the economy of Kisii residents.
Last year's nationals were held in Kakamega county. St Anthony the famous “Solidarity Boys” edged out Dagoreti mixed 2-0 in the finals to clinch national glory while Shanderema out washed Agoro Sare 5-1 to claim the third spot. Butere girls with a hard fought victory silenced Wiyeta girls 1-0 to clinch the national title in front of their home fans in Bukhungu while Madira girls cruised past Dagoreti mixed to finish as second runners up. Aldrian Kibet was one of the outstanding talents that stole the show, as everyone chanted his name in last year's KSSSA national edition.
New Champion
A variety of games are played during the term two KSSSA calendar ranging from basketball, rugby, indoor games, volleyball, football and lawn tennis. Of all the games played, football always steals the show and rocks the hearts of the many. A game that always pulls the crowds. The stadiums are always fully packed whenever a football match is ongoing. This has been witnessed in several editions of KSSSA games with the fans traveling several miles, bringing businesses and other activities to a standstill, just to witness their favorite schools kick the ball.
With last year's national champions, St Anthony Boys, already eliminated at the county level, it's certain there will be a new winner in the boys category. One time national champions Musingu high, Nairobi's Highway secondary school and the newbies Koderobara are the tournament favorites. The dark horse, St Joseph Boys is also a team to watch since we can't write off any side that's under the stewardship of veteran Cosmos Nabongolo. North Eastern's Tabaka and Kirangari, from Central, will fancy their chances against "the big boys' ', however slim they may be.
Will Butere Reign Again?
Butere girls is a well knitted team. It will be hard for any team to stand in its way to being champions again. With North Eastern failing to produce a team in the girls category, the host Nyanza region produced two teams (Nyakach girls and Alara girls). Dagoreti mixed is also a team to watch. Alara girls and St Joseph's girls will also be exciting to watch but inexperience of playing at the highest level might see them struggle in the championship. The big question remains, will Butere girls defend their title?
The winner and the runners up are set to represent Kenya in East Africa games scheduled to take place from 19th-26th August in Mbale, Uganda. Who will have the last laugh? Will the tournament favorites prove the masses right by winning the championship? Will Musingu end their 40 years national trophy drought? Will the underdogs upset the tournament favorites? We will get answers to all of this in the coming days.
You can follow livescores and match stats of the KSSSA games live.
Story Graphics: Kevin Kiprop
