After whipping out arch-rivals St Peters Mumias 6-3 in the Western region finals held at Friends school Kamusinga in March, defending rugby 15s champions Kakamega high school are set to open the title run against debutants Miathene Boys from Eastern region in their first game.
Kakamega emerged the national champions last year after thrashing Laiser Hill 18-14 in the finals to reclaim the title for the first time since 2013.
According to Amos Wamanga, Kakamega head coach, there is nothing to worry about as the team is well set to concur the tournament once again. “Having lost eight players who completed school last year, we are still focused to move and eliminate whoever we are meeting in this tournament,” said Wamanga.
However, Wamanga said he will be very keen and cautious, the same way they were when they qualified to the nationals given they face other regional champions. “It’s not easy as well. They also qualified as we did and we shall not underrate them at all. We want to win our matches and concentrate on how to retain our title,” he said.
The East and Central Africa champions arrived early enough yesterday to train and keep fit ahead of their first game against Miathene.
In boys basketball, having been in disqualified last year’s final for fielding an ineligible player, new champions Sigalame are set to begin their campaign against Laiser Hill before facing Dagoreti high of Nairobi county.
Butere girls on the other end are expected to battle it over with Buruburu girls, Kayi Tiwi from the Coast, and Kirigira from Eastern in girls basketball.
After successfully defending their regional title by defeating Friend School Kamusinga 1-0 in the hockey final, Musingu boys will face Kisumu day and Upper Hill who qualified from their respective regions. The event is set to kick off today at Kangaru boys and Kangaru girls
for five days.