Basketball in Africa

By SAMMY KITULA

Basketball champions Kangaru School and Muthambi High School from Embu are among the 100 secondary schools expected in this year’s Embu Open Inter-Schools Championships at Kangaru School.

Last year, Kangaru Boys thrased Wachoro Boys ‘A’ 49-3 to lift the basketball trophy while Muthambi lifted the girls’ trophy after a fierce tussle with Kangaru Girls.

“This year’s theme is ‘Bridging the digital divide through E-learning’ and we expect to attract more than 100 schools,” noted Kenya Institute of Education senior deputy director, John Kimotho.

Term ‘A’ Games

A huge turnout is expected at the two-day event that gets underway this morning as schools use the competition to step up training for the forthcoming Term ‘A’ games in February.

Kamiu Secondary School from Embu, are the football champions, while Muthambi will be defending their football crown. They edged out Kiriari Girls 2-1 in last year’s finals.

While it will be a tall order to rule in the boys’ handball courts, Kirimari’s handball team will be eyeing for a repeat of last year’s edition, where they emerged champions.
But the team is cautious of perennial archrivals Siakago School whom they are now laying strategy to beat.

Leaving nothing to chance

In girls’ hockey, former Eastern champions, Kangaru School, who are the tournament’s defending champions have been promised a tough fixture, when the players get down to business.

Silver medalists at last year’s edition Kinyanga, will be leaving nothing to chance and have promised defending champions no easy ride.

“We have been training quite hard and I think this will payoff in the end. This is a year we must show how talented we are,” said Kangaru’s Steve Mwaniki.

Last year, about 100 teams from 80 schools took part in the event. “We have contracted qualified referees from Kenya Basketball Federation, Kenya Hockey Union and Kenyan Premier League to man the disciplines,” said Kimotho.