The Kenyan champions secured the titles in closely contested finals at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) on Friday afternoon as the 10-day championships ended.
In the boys’ category, St Luke’s Kimilili, coached by Fernwick Opicho, beat defending champions Adegi from Rwanda 31-30.
“Adegi is a very good team with experienced players. They beat us last year in the semifinals. When we met in the group stage, we drew 14-14,” noted Opicho.
He added: “We went to the drawing board and came up with a game plan which helped us beat them this time. I want to thank the Kenyan fans for turning up in large numbers to support us.”
The school’s chief principal, Innocent Siro, commended his charges for making Kenya proud.
“They played as per our instructions. I’m happy the gold remained in Kenya,” said Siro.
Highway Secondary were third after edging Mbogo from Uganda 28-26 in the playoff.
In the girls’ category, Moi Girls’ Kamusinga beat defending champions Mbogo High from Uganda 26-25. The teams were deadlocked at 14-14 at halftime.
Coach Godfrey Simiyu said: “It was a tough final which would have gone either way. However, my girls were on the better side this time, and luck was also on our side.”
Kwanthanze High School and Cheptil High reclaimed the volleyball titles. In the boys’ category, Cheptil High survived a late scare to beat Uganda’s Namugongo High 3-2 (25-21, 23-25, 25-21, 19-9) to lift the title. Bukedea Comprehensive School from Uganda beat last year’s champions St Luc from Burundi in straight sets to claim the bronze medal.
In the girls’ category, Kwanthanze High, coached by veteran Justin Kigwari, came from a set down to beat last year’s champions Kesogon Mixed 3-1 (23-25, 25-22, 25-13, 25-18) in a thrilling final.
Bishop Sulumeti Girls bagged the bronze after beating Soweto Academy 3-1 (24-26, 25-14, 25-18, 30-28) in the third-place playoff.
Bukedea Comprehensive School lifted the boys’ football title. They beat Musingu High 2-1 at Moi Stadium in Kisumu. The semifinal game between Musingu and St Joseph’s Boys Kitale, which was abandoned on Thursday, was replayed in Kisumu on Friday. Musingu beat St Joseph’s 4-3 on post-match penalties.
In girls’ football, St Noa from Uganda retained the title after a hard-fought 1-0 win over compatriots Kawempe Muslim. Sumaya Nalumu scored the lone goal.
Rwanda’s ITS Kigali beat Amus College from Uganda 74-64 to win the boys’ 5×5 basketball title. St Noa from Uganda bagged the girls’ title after a 68-41 win over rivals St Mary’s Kitende.
Mary’s Kitende retained the netball title after beating Buddo Senior School 46-30 in an all-Uganda affair. St Noa Girls’ finished third after beating compatriots, Hamdani Islamic, 56-11.
by ANGWENYI GICHANA
