10 KSSSA national school games teams earn nomination for SOYA awards

10 KSSSA national school games teams earn nomination for SOYA awards

Ten standout school teams from the 2024 Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National Games have been nominated for the 2024 Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA), set to take place on Thursday at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) in Nairobi.

 

The annual SOYA gala celebrates the very best of Kenya’s sporting talent, and this year’s edition arrives shortly after Kenya’s outstanding performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the country topped Africa’s medal table with four gold, two silver, and five bronze medals.

 

Held annually since 2004, the SOYA Awards recognize and reward excellence across all levels of sport in Kenya. The 2024 ceremony, themed “Celebrating Women’s Excellence in Sports,” will honor athletes, coaches, and teams in 11 categories, including Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year, Coach of the Year, Hall of Fame, Sports Teams (Men and Women), School Teams (Boys and Girls), and School Coach of the Year, among others.

 

Boys’ Teams

 

All Saints Embu made history by clinching their maiden KSSSA Rugby 15s national title. The Eastern Region side stunned defending champions Butula High School 12-10 in a tense final at Machakos School.

 

The victory was especially significant as it came after a group-stage loss to the same opponents and marked the first time a school from Eastern had won the national 15s crown.

 

Friends School Kamusinga earned their spot with a brilliant basketball campaign. After finishing third at the KSSSA Term Two 3×3 Basketball Nationals by defeating Sawagongo 20-17 in the playoffs, they went on to win the 2024 FEASSSA title, dethroning Uganda’s Seroma Secondary School in the process.

 

Musingu High School returned to the national football spotlight in style. Though their dream of a national title last won in 1984 was dashed in the final by Highway Secondary, Musingu secured a bronze medal at the FEASSSA Games, showcasing resilience in a competition traditionally dominated by Ugandan teams.

 

Vihiga High School was imperious in the shorter version of the game, winning the 2024 East Africa (FEASSSA) Rugby 7s title after defeating Uganda’s Bwake Boys in the final. This was their first regional title in the discipline, highlighting their rapid rise.

 

St. Charles Lwanga impressed in hockey, earning recognition after dominating the Coast region for five consecutive years. In 2024, they finished third at the KSSSA Nationals and claimed silver at the FEASSSA Games, narrowly missing the top spot.

 

Girls’ Teams

 

Kesogon Secondary School earned their nomination after a fairy-tale run in volleyball. The Rift Valley giants finally overcame perennial rivals Kwathanze to win the 2024 FEASSSA title, having finished runners-up to them in the last two editions. They settled for second place in the KSSSA Nationals but bounced back strongly on the regional stage.

 

St. Joseph’s Girls High School, Kitale, was dominant in rugby 7s. They clinched both the KSSSA and FEASSSA titles in 2024, underlining their growing reputation as a regional powerhouse in the sport.

 

Butere Girls continued their reign in football, retaining the KSSSA National title after a commanding 2-0 win over Nyakach Girls in the final held in Kisii.

 

The Tigoi Girls hockey team was another standout side, winning the KSSSA Nationals in Machakos and going on to finish second at the FEASSSA Games, just behind champions St. Joseph’s Girls Kitale. Their consistent performances have made them a force to reckon with.

 

Kinale Secondary School, though finishing as runners-up in both the KSSSA and FEASSSA Rugby 7s competitions, was recognized for their impressive growth and competitiveness throughout the 2024 season.

 

Full List of Nominated Schools

 

Boys:

 

All Saints Embu (Rugby 15s)

 

Friends School Kamusinga (Basketball 3×3)

 

Musingu High School (Football)

 

Vihiga High School (Rugby 7s)

 

St. Charles Lwanga (Hockey)

 

Girls:

 

Kesogon Secondary School (Volleyball)

 

St. Joseph’s Girls High School, Kitale (Rugby 7s)

 

Butere Girls (Football)

 

Tigoi Girls (Hockey)

 

Kinale Secondary School (Rugby 7s)

10 KSSSA national school games teams earn nomination for SOYA awards

Ten standout school teams from the 2024 Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National Games have been nominated for the 2024 Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA), set to take place on Thursday at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) in Nairobi.

The annual SOYA gala celebrates the very best of Kenya’s sporting talent, and this year’s edition arrives shortly after Kenya’s outstanding performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the country topped Africa’s medal table with four gold, two silver, and five bronze medals.

Held annually since 2004, the SOYA Awards recognize and reward excellence across all levels of sport in Kenya. The 2024 ceremony, themed “Celebrating Women’s Excellence in Sports,” will honor athletes, coaches, and teams in 11 categories, including Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year, Coach of the Year, Hall of Fame, Sports Teams (Men and Women), School Teams (Boys and Girls), and School Coach of the Year, among others.

Boys’ Teams

All Saints Embu made history by clinching their maiden KSSSA Rugby 15s national title. The Eastern Region side stunned defending champions Butula High School 12-10 in a tense final at Machakos School.

The victory was especially significant as it came after a group-stage loss to the same opponents and marked the first time a school from Eastern had won the national 15s crown.

Friends School Kamusinga earned their spot with a brilliant basketball campaign. After finishing third at the KSSSA Term Two 3×3 Basketball Nationals by defeating Sawagongo 20-17 in the playoffs, they went on to win the 2024 FEASSSA title, dethroning Uganda’s Seroma Secondary School in the process.

Musingu High School returned to the national football spotlight in style. Though their dream of a national title last won in 1984 was dashed in the final by Highway Secondary, Musingu secured a bronze medal at the FEASSSA Games, showcasing resilience in a competition traditionally dominated by Ugandan teams.

Vihiga High School was imperious in the shorter version of the game, winning the 2024 East Africa (FEASSSA) Rugby 7s title after defeating Uganda’s Bwake Boys in the final. This was their first regional title in the discipline, highlighting their rapid rise.

St. Charles Lwanga impressed in hockey, earning recognition after dominating the Coast region for five consecutive years. In 2024, they finished third at the KSSSA Nationals and claimed silver at the FEASSSA Games, narrowly missing the top spot.

Girls’ Teams

Kesogon Secondary School earned their nomination after a fairy-tale run in volleyball. The Rift Valley giants finally overcame perennial rivals Kwathanze to win the 2024 FEASSSA title, having finished runners-up to them in the last two editions. They settled for second place in the KSSSA Nationals but bounced back strongly on the regional stage.

St. Joseph’s Girls High School, Kitale, was dominant in rugby 7s. They clinched both the KSSSA and FEASSSA titles in 2024, underlining their growing reputation as a regional powerhouse in the sport.

Butere Girls continued their reign in football, retaining the KSSSA National title after a commanding 2-0 win over Nyakach Girls in the final held in Kisii.

The Tigoi Girls hockey team was another standout side, winning the KSSSA Nationals in Machakos and going on to finish second at the FEASSSA Games, just behind champions St. Joseph’s Girls Kitale. Their consistent performances have made them a force to reckon with.

Kinale Secondary School, though finishing as runners-up in both the KSSSA and FEASSSA Rugby 7s competitions, was recognized for their impressive growth and competitiveness throughout the 2024 season.

Full List of Nominated Schools

Boys:

All Saints Embu (Rugby 15s)

Friends School Kamusinga (Basketball 3×3)

Musingu High School (Football)

Vihiga High School (Rugby 7s)

St. Charles Lwanga (Hockey)

Girls:

Kesogon Secondary School (Volleyball)

St. Joseph’s Girls High School, Kitale (Rugby 7s)

Butere Girls (Football)

Tigoi Girls (Hockey)

Kinale Secondary School (Rugby 7s)