Airtel Rising Stars National Games - Kenya

- Chemase, Kapcherop book tickets 

Chemase boys will grace the national finals of the Airtel Rising Stars Secondary schools Term 2B games for the first time after clinching the Nakuru region title.  The lads from Nandi County booked the coveted ticket after gunning down Kongoi Secondary 2-0 in an entertaining match played in Kapsabet. After a goalless first half, Chemase broke the deadlock with the important goals coming from Felix Oluoch and Gideon Kibet. 

A delighted Chemase coach Francis Sigei said they expected to win since they had trained well for the Championships. “We started preparing for this year immediately we were eliminated in regional semi-finals last year. We’re going to Kakamega not as participants but competitors,” he said. Chemase’s victory will see representatives from Nandi take part in the national finals for the first time.  

In girls’ final, Kapcherop scored an early goal to edge out Itigo 1-0 in a hotly contested match to retain the title and return to the Nationals for second time running. Prolific striker Florence Kibet scored the winning goal in the sixth minute to put Kapcherop in the driving seat. Itigo who had enjoyed good run on way to the final, intensified attacks in a bid to level the matters but Kapcherop stood tall in defense to thwart their efforts. 

Kapcherop coach John Omega said: “Everybody in our team is happy that we have won the title and qualified for the National Championships. But there is great challenge ahead as we travel to Kakamega to represent the region for second year running.” Omega said that although his team did not go beyond semis during last year’s National Championships, they hope to play better and improve on last year’s outcome. 

Seven regions, Lake, Metropolitan, Nzoia, Aberdare, Mombasa, Garissa and Northern will hold their finals next week. The winners will battle it out at the Airtel Rising Stars national championships to be staged at Kakamega High School from August 5-11. The victors will represent Kenya at the pan African championship in Gabon later next month.

 The Airtel Rising Stars initiative was started in 2011 as an annual Africa-wide program that provides a platform for upcoming soccer talent under the age of seventeen to showcase their skills to leading scouts, coaches and have an opportunity to further their football skills.  In Kenya, the initiative targets boys and girls in secondary schools across the country. 

In volleyball girls’ final Kosirai of Nandi County recorded an inspiring 3-0 (25-15, 25-17, 25-17) to retain the regional title and advance to the Nationals. Kosirai players used well their height advantage to outsmart Kaboson who were determined to dethrone the regional queens.

Cheptil who were beaten by Hospital Hill in the National final last year had an easy passage to Kakamega after they outclassed Simat in straight sets of (25-20, 25-10 and 25-16) to retain the title.