East Africa title defenders, Champions All Saints, determined to hold onto their crown
Kenya's All Saints Embu will embark on a quest to defend their Rugby 15s title at the Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) games, scheduled to begin on Thursday in Kakamega. The team, coached by Benson Mwenda, is in great form and ready to defend their title [1].
All Saints Embu will not be alone in their pursuit. Three other Kenyan sides - Kisii School, Ugandan representatives Busoga College Mwira, and Kings College Buddo - will join them in Group B [2]. Namilyango College and Jinja Secondary School, from Uganda, are in Group A, alongside national champions Vihiga High School and former national and East Africa champions Upper Hill [3].
Mwenda emphasized the importance of a good start to enhance their chances of advancing to the knockouts. He added that losing their national title was heartbreaking but served as a reminder to work harder [4].
Last year, All Saints Embu was the only Kenyan medallist at the FEASSSA games. They fought on to beat Upper Hill 19-5 in third-place play-offs to secure a podium finish [5]. This victory provided an opportunity to defend their honor and retain their title at the East Africa games.
The games present a competitive environment, with reigning volleyball champions Kesogon Secondary School, Kwanthanze Secondary School in national volleyball, and other strong rugby teams like St Theresa’s Kithimu and Paul Harris also participating [1].
All Saints Embu lost their national trophy to Vihiga High School during the National Term One games. However, they suffered a shock 12-3 defeat to Kisii School at the national semi-finals [6]. Despite these setbacks, the team has been intensely training in readiness for the challenge.
As hosts and regional sports powerhouse, Kenya seeks to reclaim the overall FEASSSA championship after previous close battles with Uganda, who have recently dominated the East African secondary school sports scene [1]. All Saints Embu's strategy likely focuses on maintaining their national rugby dominance while Kenya aims for a broader medal haul across disciplines to regain the overall trophy lost to Uganda in recent years [1].
In summary, All Saints Embu's title defense strategy centers on a strong rugby performance beginning with their match against Busoga College, within a tough competition group, contributing to Kenya's overall efforts to dominate the FEASSSA Games hosted in Kakamega in August 2022 [1][2]. The games promise to be an exciting display of sporting prowess, with all teams in Group A battling for semis slots.
- Despite the setbacks in their recent national games, All Saints Embu continues their pursuit in the sports scene, specifically in football, as they aim to defend their honor and retain their title at the European Champions League, given their previous success at the FEASSSA games.
- In addition to their rugby developments, All Saints Embu could also expand their sports portfolio by participating in the African Football League, drawing inspiration from their rugby triumphs and the ambition of Kenya to regain the overall FEASSSA championship.
