Barding book place in boys’ final, face tough Kitende of Uganda

Kenyan schools were on fire on Friday as they picked up Brookside East Africa Secondary School Games crowns one by one in Eldoret.

The hosts picked up both the boys’ and girls’ handball titles.

National boys’ handball champions Kimilili lived up to their billing, beating St Peter’s Chesirikwa 30-20 in a hotly contested final at Eldoret Sports Club.

Said an elated coach Gerald Juma: “We kept our spirits high after making it to the finals on Thursday and I am very happy that the boys did not disappoint in their promise."

“That we finished without losing any game at the regional games means we have a bright future ahead of us.”

To advance to the finals, Kimilili beat 2015 champions ES Kigoma of Rwanda 28-18 in a semi-final match on Thursday.

Saint Peter’s Chesirikwa, who are from Nakuru, thrashed Chibuli of Uganda 28-25 to sail through to the final.

Kenya’s AIC Kosirai Girls bounced back from their third finish last year to emerge this year’s girls’ volleyball champions.

Kosirai managed to beat their Kenyan sisters Soweto Girls 3-1 in a hotly contested final played yesterday at Eldoret Polytechnic as the secondary schools regional games neared homestretch.

Kosirai Girls, boasting hundreds of cheerers, won the first set 25-22 as Soweto closed in to win the second with 25-22.

Libero Vivian Cheruto helped to neutralize a number of spikes as Kosirai won the third set 25-16.

Captain Nelly Chepchumba, the Kosirai booster, was instrumental as the national champs gained scores through skilful play in the third set, wrapping it up with 25-16.

Kosirai have been eliminated in the semis twice.

The victory meant a lot for the Nandi County-based school, so much so that emotions ran high for the girls, as they sang “Umetenda maajabu hatuwezi kueleza...” loosely translated to “You (God) have done so much that we cannot tell it all...” Some were in tears.

Kenyan girls proved they had no match in tennis after dominating their opponents make it an all-Kenyan affair in the finals of the singles and doubles.

In a semis match played at Moi Girls High School Eldoret, Judith Nkatha beat Ugandan Patience Atieno 4-0, 4-0.

He compatriot Faith Nyabera  in the other semi-final blanked out Kwissa Sandra of Uganda- 4-0, 4-0.

BARDING TACKLE KITENDE

Regional games debutantes Barding Boys of Kenya booked their place in Saturday’s boys’ football final against Uganda's St Mary's Kitende at Kipchoge Keino Stadium.

Barding managed to shrug off the underdog status as they sailed into the final with favourites Bukembe also of Kenya failing to advance on Friday.

In their semi-final against Kibuli of Uganda, Barding got the solitary and winning goal through Dennis Oduor.

The tightly contested match was settled in the 87th minute through Oduor’s penalty.

Kenya’s Bukembe were denied a place in the final after losing 2-0 to Kitende in the semis. Kitende took the lead via Francis Omekalot’s goal in the 22nd minute.

The Ugandans doubled their lead through Willy Ochen in the 74th minute.

Bukembe captain Benjamin Masai said his team failed to control the midfield but said they were going back to prepare for a “thunderous comeback” next year.

“Our midfield had a problem and we kept losing possession. I also feel the referee denied us penalties even after we were fouled severally,” Masai said.