School Games: KSSSA President urges student-athletes to emulate Aldrine Kibet’s rise

Young athletes from across the country have converged in Kakamega and Mumias for the 2025 Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) Term Two Ball Games, which officially kick off today.

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During the opening ceremony, KSSSA President Kipchumba Maiyo challenged participants to seize the opportunity and emulate the path of Celta Vigo's rising Kenyan star, Aldrine Kibet.

Speaking to Mozzart Sport, Maiyo highlighted the importance of school games in shaping careers and lives, using Kibet, who rose to prominence in the 2023 edition of the same competition, as a shining example.

"School games offer an avenue through which we discover talent, inculcate values, and nurture the spirit of discipline, teamwork, and resilience," said Maiyo.

"Among the many success stories born from these fields is that of Aldrine Kibet, whose journey from secondary school football to international stardom is nothing short of inspirational.

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Today, he plies his trade in Spain, earning well over KSh800,000 per month. That is a true testament to what nurturing talent at this level can achieve."

Maiyo, a long-serving KSSSA official, stressed that the platform can be life-changing and urged students to approach the tournament with seriousness and commitment.

"His life was changed by this platform, and so can the lives of many young men and women gathered here today," he added.

However, the KSSSA boss did not shy away from addressing challenges affecting the smooth running of school sports, particularly in the area of player registration.

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"As we reflect on our milestones, we must also acknowledge a few hurdles. Chief among them is the lack of timely student registration on the KEMIS and KSSSA portals.

Let it be known that these systems are not meant to be barriers, but rather safeguards ensuring only bona fide students take part in these games," he said.

He urged schools to comply with early registration deadlines in the future to streamline operations and avoid disputes, promising improvements from next year.

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This year’s national championships are being held across two towns, Kakamega and Mumias, a logistical shift that has caused slight confusion among fans but one that officials remain optimistic about managing successfully.

Schools will compete in a variety of disciplines, including football, volleyball, netball, basketball 3x3, rugby 7s, table tennis, lawn tennis, and badminton.

Matches are already underway at several venues, with Kakamega High School and MMUST hosting key fixtures.