School Games: Kesogon stun Kwanthanze as Butere dethrone Wiyeta

Rift Valley’s Kesogon wiped the floor with Kwanthanze in the volleyball girl’s final winning 3-1 sets to clinch their maiden national title and put the brakes on the East Africa champions’ charge while Butere Girls of Western ended  Wiyeta’s eight-year dominance in the football girl’s final with a 1-0 victory.

So often bullied by the volleyball heavyweights, Kesogon got off the canvas and lifted Kwanthanze off their feet with a huge uppercut that sent shockwaves to the attending fans, winning in sets of 25-19, 15-25, 22-25, 25-21 to exact revenge on the six-time champions who defeated them with the same score line in last year’s final held in Nakuru.

Kwanthanze, who were crowned champions in this year’s Africa Secondary School Games in Morocco, were eyeing their fifth successive national glory and seventh in total.

The Machakos-based side won their maiden title in 2013 and they have been a force to reckon with in the sport with their dominance spilling over to the East Africa stage where they have six titles to their name.

The two sides are expected to renew their rivalry at the East Africa Secondary Schools Games set for next week in Huye, Rwanda. Soweto and Mwitoti will also represent the country in the volleyball girls after finishing third and fourth respectively.

By virtue of being the East Africa defending champions in boys and girls, Kenya will present four teams in each category.

In the football girls final held at Bukhungu Stadium, Judith Okumu’s solitary goal in the first half was enough to deny Wiyeta a record-extending ninth title.

Butere Girls got off to a flying start, with Joy Angela Valencia leading The Red Commandos' attack in causing havoc in Wiyeta's 18-yard box and finally getting a penalty in reward.

Judith Okumu then calmly slotted home from the spot kick in the 25th minute, enough to hand Red Commandos their first title since 2014.

Wiyeta's search for an equaliser was thwarted by Butere's resolute defending keeping their attackers at bay with goalkeeper Christine Adhiambo putting in an impressive shift to ensure their victory.

Head coach Howard Shikanga hailed his charges for their hard fought victory to cruise to East Africa in style.

"We are very happy to win this title. We fought for it and we deserve the victory. Our focus is now East Africa," noted Shikanga.

Elsewhere, Madira Soccer Assassins edged out Dagoretti Mixed 1-0 to finish third and bag a bronze in their maiden appearance. They also sealed Kenya’s final football girls slot for the regional games.

In netball, Nyanza’s Oyugi Oyango defeated Bukokholo of Western 54-40 in the final to win their maiden title.

Additional reporting by Stanley Mativo.