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Teams converge in Kakamega for school games
Officials from the Ministry of Education inspect Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega yesterday. The facility will host East Africa secondary school games from August 14 - 25.
Guest teams from Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria will join squads from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda in the 22nd edition of the Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) championships that will be held in different venues in Kakamega County from tomorrow.
The ten-day championship will be held in Kakamega from August 12 - 22 and will feature football, volleyball, basketball, netball, lawn tennis, and swimming.
Football has typically drawn the biggest crowds at the championship.
The regional championships come hot in the heels of the Term Two national championships held Kakamega High School grounds, Masinde Muliri University of Science and Technology, Mumias Sports Complex, Kakamega Police Canteen Grounds, and at Sacred Heart Mukhumu Girls High School early this month.
Yesterday, Nelson Sifuna who heads the Directorate of Field and Co-Curricular Activities at the Ministry of Education said this year’s championship has attracted more teams.
“This tournament is an invaluable opportunity for young players to showcase their talents, potentially earning sponsorship opportunities beyond the region,” Sifuna said.
Lacrose, scrabble, chess and cricket will be introduced at this year’s championships. A new artificial turf has been installed at Bukhungu Stadium which will be the main venue for this year’s championship.
Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa said the stadium will host the opening ceremony of the games.
“The stadium is ready to host the games that will be held in Kakamega from August 14 to 24. Bukhungu Stadium will host the opening ceremony of the competition,” Governor Barasa said yesterday after an inspection tour of the facility.
Mr Barasa said construction work being undertaken at the stadium jointly between Kakamega County and the national government will be complete in June next year.
Pool ‘A’ of boys’ football will feature hosts Musingu Boys High School, Butere Boys Secondary School and Highway Secondary School along with reigning champions Amus College of Uganda, Buddo Secondary School from Uganda, CGFK Kicukiro Secondary School from Rwanda and Kizuka Secondary School from Tanzania in Pool A. Pool ‘B’ has hosts St Joseph’s Kitale and Agai Secondary School from Kenya, St Mary’s Kitende of Uganda, Benjamin Mukapa Secondary School from Tanzania, Bukedea Comprehensive School from Uganda, APE Rugunga Secondary School from Rwanda, and Burundi’s EPM Mpanda Secondary School.
“It’s going to be 10 days full of sports activities,” Mr Barasa said, assuring participants of maximum security..
