This archive report was first published on 26 July 2019.
53rd National School Games: What to Expect in Kisumu ¶
After a four-year hiatus, the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) Term Two National School Games will return to Kisumu County, kicking off on July 30, 2019.
As the teams prepare for the week-long competition, we take a look at the changes and facts to note for this year's event.
The Term Two action will feature football U16 and U19, volleyball, netball, badminton, table tennis, and lawn tennis, while Term One comprised of basketball, hockey, rugby 15's, rugby 7's, swimming, handball, cross-country, and athletics.
Despite the Mombasa High Court's ruling last month that scrapped the age limit for students at school championships, the age limit will still be in place for this year's event, with players who will battle it out in Kisumu must be 19 years old and below or born on or after September 1, 1999.
Fourteen-time boy's Under-19 champions Kakamega will not defend their title after falling short in County level, while last year's finalists Olbosalt of Central region and Dagoretti of Nairobi will be looking to improve their performance.
Other teams to watch in the football category include 2012 champions St.Anthony's, Shimba Hills from Coast, and North Eastern representatives.
Interestingly, there will be no defending champions in the Girls' U-19 category after Kwale Girls were disqualified for fielding ineligible players during the regional level.
St. Johns Kaloleni will represent the Coast region, while last year's finalist Bishop Njenga of Western will be out to right their wrongs in the preliminary matches.
In the U-16 category, where the Copa Coca-Cola slots are at stake, last year's defending champions St. Anthony High School (boys) and Moi Girls Nangili (Girls) are notably missing from the nationals this year.
The 2016 girls' champions Wiyeta Girls High School (Rift Valley Region) will be seeking to stamp their dominance in the girl's category after being defeated in the finals last year.
Other teams to watch in the volleyball category include four-time East Africa champions Kwanthanze Girls, who will be seeking to clinch a fourth national title, and last year's runners up Soweto.
