Term Two Tradition: Secondary Schools Brace for Exciting KSSA Sports Season

Traditionally, term two has been a favourite term for most secondary school sports enthusiasts in the country. Various games are played, ranging from soccer, volleyball, tennis, basketball, and netball. However, football always takes centre stage at the Kenya Secondary Sports Association (KSSA) competitions. Most fans consider high school football one of the most fascinating sports to watch.

Fans enjoy watching raw talent from schools do their wonders. Young players with determined talents. Rough diamond that requires some polishing. Who doesn't remember last year's electrifying performance by Humphrey Aroko in a fully packed Gusii stadium? We all enjoyed watching Harrison Ambalemba’s amazing technique on free kicks. 

KSSA football games are always entertaining and nostalgic. Right from preliminaries/zonals to the national levels. You will experience all sorts of emotions from game teachers, coaches, fans (locals), and the students. Some regions are competitive, unpredictable, and have no protocol. You will find some small, unknown schools humiliating big names.

In preparation for the term two KSSA games, some schools have strengthened their squad by adding students from other schools through formal transfer. Others have recruited members of the technical bench to improve their results. For one to be eligible to play, he/she must adhere to KSSA article 11, section (a) rule, which says, “Players in all teams in all sports must be bona fide students who have played in their respective schools for at least 90 days before the start of preliminaries at the ward level, except for Form One.”

Schools have played a series of friendlies and several open tournaments. Since the onset of the year, so many open tournaments have been played: Musingu Open, Alliance Open, Yala Open, Maseno Open, and Kariobangi Shark Elite School tournaments. These are some of the notable open tournaments that have been played across the country.

Some schools have gone the extra mile and played high-profile friendlies against teams participating in the different tier leagues in the country. This approach has exposed the students to the required intensity they are likely going to face once the school games kick off.

Peter Mayoyo, St. Anthony's head coach, is confident that his side has had good preparation and is ready to participate in the upcoming games. “We began our preparations early, as far back as last year, and have tested ourselves in high-profile friendlies. The boys are motivated, there’s healthy competition within the squad, and the teamwork is outstanding.”

We're going to witness some schools being sent to class early. "Warudi shule watengeneze mean score, maneno ya ball hawawezi." This is a common phrase that will rend the air once some schools get eliminated from the competition. Some schools' whole year of preparation "efforts" will be ruined in a single weekend. 

KSSA games are mostly played in two halves of 25-30 minutes each. Once your school trails in a match, it's very difficult to come back in that particular game. Game management is key in such tournament-like games. Solid defensive setups and good outlets will win you matches in high school games. Transitional games have proved to work better than possession-based approaches.

Some schools use dirty tricks to get results. Some schools are fond of using ineligible players on their way up. The famous "Mamulukis" ineligible players or overage players. KSSA article 17, section (a), terms an ineligible person as “a student who has not met the 90-day rule, a student with faulty documents (i.e., details not matching in the ID, team list, or photo album), not meeting the maximum age rule (19 years and under), not meeting the six-year rule after KCPE, not meeting the transfer rule, or a Form Four repeater.”

The KSSA jury doesn't always spare such cases. Schools that use ineligible players are always punished. The affected team is required to make an appeal to the jury. KSSA article 15 section {c} says, “An appeal shall be made within 30 minutes after the end of the match in question, through an Executive Committee Member of the affiliate via the commissar. The affected team(s) appealing to the jury shall pay a fee of KSh. 5,000 (five thousand), only refundable if the case is won.”

Some are barred from participating in KSSA games for a specified period. Once the case is heard by the jury. A disciplinary action is taken against the team. Teams, players, coaches, or the schools are barred from participating in the sporting activity for a certain period. KSSA article 14, section b and c, says, “Any school banned from participating, her students will not be allowed to take part in all KSSSA activities for a maximum period of two years. Any teacher barred from KSSSA shall be banned for a maximum of three years.”

With Kenya hosting the East Africa Games. Local sports enthusiasts are excited about this year's games. 

Feature Image Credit: Citizen