KSSSA: Kitondo High School wants more after national games success

Eastern-based Kitondo High School are itching for more after an impressive performance in the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) Term One Rugby 15s games.

The side ended their campaign at position three and booked a direct slot in the Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) games slated for August.

They were placed in Pool B which saw them face off with Marafa, Lenana, and Mang’u High Schools.

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They started their campaign with a 17-16 victory over Lenana before suffering a 12-8 loss to Mang’u. They then bounced back to winning ways with a 36-6 win over Marafa to proceed to the semifinals.

At the semifinal stage, the side went down 32-23 to Butula Boys. They ended the competition with a 13-9 victory over Lenana in the third-place playoff.

This was the second time the school was featuring in the KSSSA rugby 15s competition. Last year, they ended their campaign at the regional stage.

Speaking to Mozzart Sport, the school’s coach Dennis Chikamai pointed out that his charges played according to the book. He disclosed that they were focused on progress over perfection.

“Our game plan was good. We executed our targets. Reaching this stage means a lot to the boys because, for most of them, this is their first time on this stage. We are growing,” he started.

Chikamai noted that the matches put their skills to the test, but he was glad the boys brought their A-game on board. He was convinced that their experience at the East African stage last year was key in propelling them to excellence. They featured in the 2023 FEASSSA rugby 7s.

“The matches were tough but we played according to our structure. The East African experience was good for the boys. They did not suffer from stage fright. They aim to go back to East Africa and feel the stage again,” Chikamai disclosed.

He also expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, noting that they surpassed their targets this year. For Chikamai, upward was the only way.

“Our target this year was to expose the boys because most of them are new. We always aim to go one step further,” he offered.

The school’s principal Richard Mokaya was also pleased with the boys’ performance and assured of his unwavering support to propel them to greater heights. He was glad that rugby was taking shape in the Eastern region.

“I feel good. The boys have lived up to expectations. Our game has been 7s but how they have played in the 15s version has impressed me. We have immense support from our school management, even the board chair, the alumni, the parents, and teachers. We also have some well-wishers supporting us,” he offered.

Mokaya foresees a future where the school would field more than one discipline at the national level. The school’s hockey team came in third at the regional stage. He was confident that next year, they will perform better.

The principal further called for more investment in rugby in Eastern Kenya, insisting that the sport was a sleeping giant in the region.

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“Rugby is the future of Kitondo School. We need to do capacity building like training the coaches. That is very important because once you get that technical aspect, we will develop the game,” he started.

He continued, “The other thing is also to have a positive mindset. Rugby can propel this region to greater heights. We need to do a lot of investment and ask the Union to invest in this game.”

All Saints Embu were crowned the KSSSA rugby 15s winners after dethroning defending champions Butula Boys 12-10 in the closely contested final match.