By Reuben Olita
Champions John Osogo Secondary School (JOSS) and runners Mabunge RC will carry Busia County flag in the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association that gets underway today in Bungoma County.
JOSS from Bunyala Sub County are in Pool A together with Kibabii Boys, Munyuki, and Chavakali. Mabunge from Matayos Sub County is in Pool B, which also includes Bukembe, Musingu, and Ebwali.
JOSS is returning to the regional games two years in succession after featuring in last year’s games in Kakamega. They open their campaign today when they take on Bungoma champions Kibabii Boys at Bungoma High School, the venue of the opening ceremony.
John Osogo, County Chapa Dimba Champions, will play their second game against Munyuki tomorrow at Sudi Stadium before winding up their preliminary match against Chavakali on Friday, hoping to secure semi-final slot to be played on the same day.
Mabubge will open their campaign tomorrow when they take on Bukembe at Sudi B. They take on Musingu on the same day at Bungoma High School grounds before completing their fixtures with a titanic clash against former national champions Ebwali.
In soccer girls,’ Busia champions Chakol Queens have been pitted in tough pool, that includes former national champions Butere Girls, Bungoma champions Lukhuna and Ibubi.
Chakol Queens will open their campaign against former regional champions Butere tomorrow before facing Lukhuna the same day. They play their last preliminary match on Friday against Ibubi.
Busia runners-up Kingandole from Butula Sub County is in Pool A together with former regional champions Brenda, 2011 and 2015 national champions Archbishop Njenga, Brenda, and Madira.
Kingandole, which represented the then Nzoia region in the regional games in Lodwar in 2016, will face ABN in the first match tomorrow before taking on Brenda in the second match on the same day. They play their last preliminary match on Friday against Madira.
This year’s regional games will miss the participation of 15-time national champions Kakamega Green Commandos who were knocked out by Musingu at the county level.
The school had emerged Kenya’s dominant football force since 1986 when the beat Iterio High School in the titanic final, with their last victory registered in 2018 in Eldoret.
Iterio was then a dominant school with the line-up, including the likes of Mike Okoth Origi, Henry Motego, Richard Otambo, Henry Nyandoro, Evans Nyariki, Anthony Walioba, and Salim Mabruk.
Under tutelage of the late Chris Makokha, the Green Commandos stamped their authority to emerge a power house in the schools’ games in the country.
Among players who earned them national glory included Henry Osuka, Stephen Etole, Joash Okongo, Julius Were, Sylvanus Bulanda, and Milton Obote.
