Koyonzo High keen to cause upset in KSSSA rugby 15s regionals

Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) rugby 7s defending champions, Koyonzo High School, will be aiming to outclass their opponents in the upcoming Western region Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) rugby 15s regionals slated for March 20-24 at Nyang'ori Boys in Vihiga.

The Stormers will be hoping to leave a mark in the longer version of the game after their last campaign ended prematurely. The team was expelled from the Western Kenya Secondary School Games after fielding non-students in the regional finals played in Busia.

They were set to face Vihiga Boys in the finals, but their place was taken up by KSSSA rugby 15s defending champions Butula Boys.

They started 2024 on a high after being crowned the School of the Year in the Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA) boys’ category, beating Namwela Boys and National Football Champions St Anthony Boys, who finished second and third respectively.

According to the team’s tactician, Elly Okwemba, the side will be looking to replicate their rugby 7s performance to add the 15s title to their already decorated cabinet. The school has competed at the regional level three times and will be looking to shine.

"We dominated the Sevens version last year and target the same in the 15s this year. We have played at the regional championships three times, losing the 2019 final to Kakamega. However, we are ready to rumble this time and reach East Africa," said Okwemba.

Okwemba went on to explain that with their standards already high, they anticipated intense competition from their opponents. Despite the challenge that lay ahead, he was confident that they were well-prepared.

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“We are trying to maintain our standards, which is not easy. We have to work hard and smart. If you want to remain a champion, you must prepare thoroughly for everyone who comes your way,” said Okwemba.

“We are the county champions, and whoever wins in Kakamega will go to the regional, national, and even the East Africa games. We have played against most of the regional teams and have prepared. We are wary of those we have never competed against."

At the county level, the Stormers started their campaign by defeating their hometown neighbors Kakamega School 14-6 before defeating Malava Boys 48-3 to proceed to the quarterfinal stage. At that stage, they inflicted a 54-0 defeat on Soysambu before heading to the semifinals, where they defeated Musingu 23-3 to book a slot in the finals. In the final stage, they emerged victorious against Koyonzo 10-3 in a closely contested match.

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According to Okwemba, they have not faced a tough team yet, and they were thoroughly sharpening their claws in readiness for the same.

“We have not encountered a tough team so far. We have been winning comfortably, but playing against Kakamega School, people said it was tough, yet we won easily. We had too many scoring chances that we did not utilize,” he said.

The Western championships will feature eight teams from Bungoma, Busia, Kakamega, and Vihiga counties.

Pool A: Vihiga Boys, Mundika, Bungoma High, Kakamega School

Pool B: Chavakali Boys, Butula Boys, Kimobo High, Koyonzo Boys