KSSSA School Games: Dr. Aggrey Set to Defend Basketball Title at Home

KSSSA School Games: Dr. Aggrey Set to Defend Basketball Title at Home

The national boys’ basketball champions, Dr. Aggrey, are feeling no pressure as they gear up to defend their title at the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National Term One games, which will take place in Mombasa next month.

As a team from the Coast Region, they are confident in their abilities, believing they are stronger than last year when they secured the championship in Machakos with a close 56-54 win over former Nyanza Region champions Agoro Sare.

Dr. Aggrey’s head coach, Robert Aran, who is also the school’s principal and a practicing lawyer, asserts that his team is prepared to compete against the best in the country and plans to leverage the support of their home crowd as additional motivation.

“As the defending champions, we recognize the expectations, but we don’t feel any pressure. In fact, playing in Mombasa is an advantage because we are familiar with the conditions, and we anticipate our fans will rally behind us,” Aran stated.

Dr. Aggrey has been placed in Group A, where they will compete against Pioneer School, Dagoretti High School, and Friends School Kamusinga. Although it is a challenging group, Aran is confident that his team will rise to the challenge.

Despite last year’s victory, Aran emphasizes that their objective remains unchanged: to win the national title and solidify their dominance in school basketball.

“Our aim this year is to defend our title. We have made improvements in various areas, and I believe this team is stronger than last year’s. We have depth, versatility, and greater experience, which will be crucial in this tournament,” Aran added.

Dr. Aggrey’s journey to the national finals has been impressive, having dominated the Coast Region Games, where they emerged victorious after defeating Mombasa Baptist.

Their combination of experienced senior players and talented newcomers instills confidence as they strive for consecutive national victories. Aran noted that he lost only two players from last year’s team.

Last year’s final against Agoro Sare was a thrilling match that was decided by a single basket.

Aran recognizes that endurance will be vital in this year’s tournament, and his team has been working hard to ensure they can handle high-intensity games.

“We have focused significantly on our endurance and fitness levels. Last year, we won the final by just one basket, and we understand that small details are crucial at this level. We have been pushing our players in training, enhancing their stamina, and preparing them for high-pressure situations,” Aran explained.

In Group B, the newly crowned Nyanza Region champions, Sawagongo High School from Siaya County, will be eager to make a strong start in their debut as they face Laiser Hill, Lukenya, and North Eastern.