KSSSA Games: Ruthimitu want name remembered long after maiden nationals appearance

Nairobi region Kenya Secondary School Sports Association (KSSSA) boys’ volleyball champions, Ruthimitu Secondary will make their maiden appearance at the national games set for 8 to 11 September in Nakuru with the heavy burden of upsetting the form book.

The side beat Hospital Hill 3-1(24-26, 25-18,25-23,25-16) to book a place to the national games where they will have the herculean task of beating seasoned schools to the national championship or at least reaching the final for a chance to represent the country at the East Africa School Games.

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Skipper Derrick Vundi says the team will go back to training for the few days left before leaving for Nakuru with targeted areas to improve on based on their performance at the regional level.

“We had a slow start, mostly because we were nervous. In 2019 we reached this same level and lost to Lang’ata so we really wanted to change that. Knowing that Hospital Hill are equally strong may have led to the first set performance.

We have, however, identified areas that need improving, in addition to staying calm in any situation. We have to work on our reception which gave us trouble during the regional competition. Our back court defence was also wanting and needs improvement,” offered Vundi.

The Dagoretti-based school will hope to do better than their predecessors at the Games, Langa’ta who finished fourth behind champions Mogonga, Lelmokwo and Namwela. The top two made it to the East Africa Games.

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With Nairobi having selected its representatives to the national games, the rest of the regions will see action begin on Thursday 1 September across the country as all county winners locking horns for a place at the Nakuru Games.

Schools that qualify will have little time to regroup as the nationals begin in a week’s time. The same fate will befall teams that qualify for the East Africa games set for Arusha, Tanzania in a fortnight.