Time For Namwela Boys to Make Centre Stage with Chept’s Exit
The unexpected exit of Kenya’s volleyball powerhouse Cheptil Boys from the Rift Valley regional secondary schools games has given a golden opportunity for Bungoma champions Namwela from Western Region to fit into their shoes.
Cheptil met their Waterloo in Andersen from Trans Nzoia, which beat them 3-0 in the semi-finals to set out a final clash with Ol Moran from Narok County which they emerged winners to book a ticket for the national finals in Kakamega.
The reigning national and East Africa Secondary Schools Games champions failed to retain the regional title that would have given them an opportunity to defend the two titles they won last year to assert their supremacy in the East Africa region.
Namwela in their second consecutive appearance at the national scene in 2022, caused a major upset when they reached the finals before losing to Cheptil to confirm that it’s only time before they inscribe their name on the coveted trophy that has been up for grabs for 52 years except for 1988, 2020 and 2021 when it was not held, the last two years owing to Coronavirus.
Cheptil was crowned the Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) championships in 2022 in
Arusha Tanzania after beating Standard SSS
from Uganda 3-1 to reclaim the title they last won in 2012. It was back to back victory, having also won in 2011.
On the national scene, Cheptil from Nandi county has won the title 5 Times since it inception in 1971. Their first victory was in 2009. They won back to back in 2011 and 2012, 2016, and the last being in 2022.
Andersen High School from Endebess in Trans Nzoia County, which is headed by Julius Kipruto Mibei as the principal, is a mixed boarding secondary school.
” I wish to congratulate Andersen High School for emerging the winners of Netball Girls and Volleyball Boys in Rift Valley Region both from Endebess after performing exemplary to qualify for National competition scheduled to take place in Kakamega.
Equally, I congratulate St Anthony Boy’s Kitale for a massive win in soccer, Wiyeta Girls soccer champions, Kesogon Girls volleyball winners. You are indeed an inspiration in exploring talent in the young generation, which is quite motivating.
All the best as you purpose to uphold the win at National level,” Endebess Member of Parliament Dr Robert Pukose said in his Facebook page.
Teams from Rift Valley have dominated volleyball at the national level; others include Manor House from Trans Nzoia, Paul Boit (Uasin Gishu), and Kapsaos from Elgeyo Marakwet.
St Patrick, Iten apart from academics exellense in the A level system of education, in the 1960s to early 1980s, was also unmatchable in co-curricum activities under Bro Brodericks Marcellus as the then school principal.
During Brodericks tenure, St Patrick’s Iten won the national volleyball boys title unscathed for 14 years between 1971-1984. Eastleigh Secondary from Nairobi halted their unmatchable success clinching the title in 1985-1986 before St Patrick’s recovered their poise a year later.
The games were not held in 1988 that coincidedentally coincided with the summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea when the son of Busia Wangila Napunyi became the first African to win an Olympic Gold Medal (RIP our icon).
St Patrick’s Iten returned from the short break to win their 16th title in 1989 before making it 17 in 1990.
The exit of Bodericks seemed to take its tall on the team as they went into oblivion, failing to bounce back and living little known schools to take centre stage.
Kabiyet Secondary from Nandi emulated St Patrick’s Iten feat when they emerged champions in 1997. Manor House from Trans Nzoia lifted the region with back to back titles in 1999-2000 to consolidate the region’s supremacy.
It was the turn of Paul Boit from Uasin Gishu when they won three titles in a row between 2001 and 2003.
Kapsaos was not left behind as they too inscribed their name on the coveted trophy in 2005.
Then came Cheptil from Nandi, which had remained dominant, winning the diadem in 2009, 2011-2012, 2016, and 2022. With their elimination from the regionals by minnows Andersen, the big question is, will their rivals emulate that magnificent feat and lift the region by clinching the 2023 national title?
Andersen quest to keep Rift Valley region in the limelight might receive a challenge from Western and Nyanza regions. Namwela, which lost to Cheptil in last year’s national finals, are not pushovers. They showed their intensions clear, eliminating Malava boys, which won national titles in 2007-2008, 2010 and 2018.
Nyanza, with Kisii region in particular, has sprang surprises with little known schools upsetting the formbook. Sengera took the scene by storm, capturing the title in 2017 with Mogonga secondary following suit in 2019.
It remains to be seen whether Central Region, which was Rift Valley’s stumbling block, will rise to the occasion this time round.Giakanja High School from Nyeri took the volleyball scene by storm to win the national title in 1991,1993 and 1996.
Kiriti emulated that feat to emerge 1995 champions.Aguthi were 1998 winners.Tetu Boys emerged 2004 champions to become the last school from Central region to clinch volleyball title at national level. Whether the trend will change remains to be seen.
Nairobi City is the bedrock of volleyball in the country with many facilities at their disposal, but it has failed to match other counties at the national level. Only Easthleigh High School, which achieved the feat winning, the title for the second time in a row between 1985 and 1986 and Hospital Hill in 2013.
Photo: Namwela players jump to block Malava spikers from their lethal shots in the national secondary schools final on Saturday.
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