School Games: Mpesa Academy on a mission to rule national games

After sweeping the board in the Central regional games, Mpesa Foundation Academy is ready to rumble at the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National Term One games set for Mombasa from April 6-13.

Mpesa Academy have assembled five teams in different disciplines that are heading to national games with an aim to qualify for the East Africa Schools Games.

The academy won three titles in hockey (girls and boys) and girls’ basketball. They also won several slots in swimming and athletics composite teams.

The school’s hockey head coach Shem Otieno said his teams are ready for the national showpiece.

“We have concentrated our training on building stamina on our teams besides instilling skills on all our players,” Otieno told Standard Sports.

As a result, his players are determined to give their best when the games kick-off in a week’s time.

In winning the boys’ hockey title, Mpesa defeated Nyandarua Boys 2-0 in the finals.

In girls’ basketball, Mpesa saw off Loreto High, Limuru 37-26 in the finals.

“Even our swimming and athletic squads are equally good and ready for the epic tasks ahead of them. They’ll not disappoint,” said Otieno.

Meanwhile, Mang’u who won the rugby 15s title are equally upbeat.

The team is also not ready to disappoint this time round after falling to Lenena in the preliminaries at the same stages in Machakos last year.

“We have made tremendous improvements in our team now and we’re ready to improve on it compared to last year,” said head coach Irungu Maina.

Mang’u are in Group A with Serani from Coast, Nairobi’s Upper Hill and defending champions All Saints from Eastern.

In winning the regional title, Mang’u whitewashed Kiarithaini 42-3 in the finals.

Group B has Kisii of Nyanza, Vihiga of Western and Rift Valley representatives.

Other teams heading to Mombasa from the region are Makuyu Boys and Thika Girls as the regional boys’ and girls’ handball champions respectively.