St Anthony Boys, Butere Girls lift National Secondary School Football title

Kakamega

Sunday, August 13, 2023

KNA by Moses Wekesa

Rift Valley’s St Anthony Boys High School and Butere Girls High from Western Region are this year’s National Secondary School Football Champions.

St Anthony Boys knocked out Dagoretti High from Nairobi 2-0 in the finals as Butere girls edged out Wiyeta Girls representing Rift Valley region 1-0.

The Soccer finals marked the end of the National Secondary Schools Sports Association games held in Kakamega County.

Schools were competing in Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball, Netball, Rugby-7s, Badminton, Lawn Tennis and Table Tennis.

The Schools will now proceed to the Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) Games at Huye City in Rwanda from August 19 to 28.

Kwanthanze girls failed to reclaim their victory with Kesogon Girls High School from Trans Nzoia County lifting this year's National Girls Volleyball Title, however they will still defend their East Africa title.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi led a host of leaders including Cabinet Secretaries for Education Ezekiel Machogu, Youth Affairs, Sports and The Arts Ababu Namwamba, Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, host Governor Fernandes Barasa, Lamu Governor Issa Timammy, MPs among other leaders from both the National and County Governments to witness the finals at Bukhungu Stadium.

Governor Barasa congratulated St Anthony’s for being the soccer champions, Butere Girls for lifting girls’ football and Koyonzo boys for winning the rugby title noting that Kakamega is ready to host any sport that will be hosted in the country including the Talanta Hela tournament.

CS Namwamba said that from the Secondary School games, the country has witnessed the rebirth of Kenyan Football expressing optimism of future in the sport.

He noted that the government released Sh267 million to support the schools co-curricular activities competitions, both games, music and drama festivals.

“We are determined in both the Ministries of Sports and Education to support talented youngsters to progress,” he added.

He said that through Talanta Hela, Kenya Academy of Sports has identified over 2000 students from the competitions who will proceed to Nairobi for the first ever Kenya Talent camp to be trained in the presence of the Kenya Premier League Clubs and the National Soccer Team Harambee stars scouts.

He announced that KAS has marked all teams that have reached the apex of the competitions for establishment of Sports Academies in their schools to nurture talent.

Speaking in the same function, Education CS Ezekiel Machogu assured schools going to Rwanda of enough financial support from the government.

On his part, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi assured that the National Government will continue to work with all county governments to improve infrastructure in schools to give students ample time to study and nurture their talents.

Courtesy ; K. N. A