In the world of sports, sportsmen and women often draw strength from their teammates and coaches, but the most significant source of inspiration comes from family members who show up to throw their weight behind the players during competitions.
Support for the players becomes even more crucial when the player in question is a young student. At the Kenya Secondary School Sports Association (KSSSA) Term Two national championships held in Kakamega County from July 29 to August 2, some parents travelled for hundreds of kilometres and camped for days at the venue of the games to lend support to their children who were representing their respective schools at different venues.
They sang and danced with their children when their teams won, and offered them a shoulder to lean on when results didn’t go their way.
Kennedy Oyombe, a mechanic at Nyang’ade Market in Kisumu County, travelled to Mumias Sports Complex to lend support to his son Stephen Oyombe who was playing as goalkeeper for Agai Secondary School from Kisumu region against St Joseph’s Boys Kitale from Rift valley on August 1.
Although his team lost the match, Stephen was all smiles afterwards.
“Despite having lost to St Joseph’s 3-0, it feels really good to have my father here. He has attended all of my team’s matches since the championship started, and he is my number one fan. He corrects me when I make mistakes in matches," said the 17-year-old who is a Form Four student.
Agai Secondary School goalkeeper Stephen Oyombe (right) with his father Kennedy Oyombe at Mumias Sports Complex on August 1, 2025.
Photo credit: Agnes Makhandia | Nation Media Group
"The fact that he left and closed his jua kali business for a week just to come here and watch me play is a huge sacrifice. I don’t take it for granted. I hope to join the disciplined forces and help him expand his business once I am done with school,” Stephen said.
“I have supported my son during his matches right from the sub-county championships, to the nationals and I don’t regret it. I know that sports can change our life. Stephen is a hardworking and disciplined child, and that’s why I want to support him in whatever he chooses to do so that he can live his dream of becoming a police officer. I hope a team from the disciplined forces will sign him up. I enjoy watching him play,” Kennedy said.
At Kakamega ‘Bull Ring’ grounds where sevens rugby matches were staged, Lenana High School centre player, Raysam Aboge, was over the moon as his parents set aside time from their busy schedule to watch him play against Marsabit High School from North Eastern region.
Raysam’s father Aloyce Aboge is a chief at Kisumu West Sub-county, while his mother Violet Adhiambo Aboge is a teacher at Bar Union Secondary School in Kisumu. Both were on the pitch-side when Lenana beat Marsabit 22-05 in the group stage match, their son playing a leading role in the victory.
“It is encouraging to see my parents and my little brother here. It shows that they are in support of what I’m doing and I want to make them proud. Their presence gave me peace and calmness, knowing that they were cheering me on. I was really happy and encouraged,” Raysam,18, said.
“It’s a such a pleasure to watch my son play. He is the only child who has taken up sports in the family and we are here to give him moral support because we want him to play in the national team. Going by what we have seen, he is certainly destined for greatness. I pray that his desires come to pass. He is a hard-working and disciplined child,” said Aboge who played amateur football in Kisumu in the 1990s.
Eregi Secondary School’s fly half, Anne Nakhumicha, enjoyed the support of her parents in her matches. After Eregi from Western region defeated Gituamba Secondary School from Central 17-0 to qualify for quarter-final matches, her mother Judith Nalianya joined the team’s cheering squad in a jig.
“My mother came to me running after we finished our match. She was so happy and excited. My father Victor Kiondu has always attended my matches and so it was evident that I had made him happy and proud. I want to continue making them happy, and to continue believing in me,” the 16-year-old Form Two student who aspires to be either a doctor or fashion designer later in life said.
Kiondu said his daughter would have been a handball player. She only took up the game after a heartbreaking moment.
Eregi secondary school rugby fly half Anne Nakhumicha (centre) with parents Judith Nalianya and Victor Kiondu in Kakamega on July 31, 2025 during the secondary schools Term Two games.
Photo credit: Agnes Makhandia | Nation Media Group
“In December 2023 after her primary school education at St Joseph’s Webuye Primary School, many youngsters attended trials in various sports at Kitale, so we took Anne there for handball trials because that’s the game she had played in primary school," Kiondu, himself a former football and volleyball player at Matulo Mixed Secondary School in Bungoma County, said.
"She failed to make the cut. Luckily, rugby had not attracted many players and the coach in charge took her in. Anne grasped the rules of the game faster, and she was picked for an extended training programm,” the father said.
“In 2024, she was accepted at Eregi Secondary School. The rest is history. I have always attended her matches and watching her play gives me so much pleasure. I want her to be successful in whatever she chooses to do. I’m here to encourage her to believe in herself,” he added.
At Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology grounds, Elphas Kiptoo was over the moon when Cheptil Boys Secondary School retained the national title after beating Malava High School 3-0 sets (25-17, 25-14, and 25-22).
His sons Bethuel and Benard were in the team. Kiptoo showed up to watch his sons play right from sub-county to the national level.
He has previously traveled to Rwanda to watch them play in East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association championships. In 2024, he travelled to Uganda to offer them morale support in matches involving ther team.
“I know my presence means a lot to them and that’s why I can’t miss their matches. Support from parents in whatever the chilren choose to do is key. My presence here was reassuring. I am happy to be part of their journey,” said Kiptoo.
Benard ,19, is in Form Four and plays as a middle blocker. Bethuel, 17, is in Form Two and plays as a left attacker.
“He is our eighth man on the court. He has always attended our matches and that’s proof that he loves what we do. We appreciate his presence and his constructive criticism,” said Benard.
Coaches of teams spoke highly of parents who lent their children support at the games, saying it made their work easier.
