East Africa's Butere Cannons target a new sound, heralding a fresh gong in the region
Butere Girls High School, a renowned basketball powerhouse in Kenya, is gearing up for the upcoming Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) games, scheduled to take place in Kakamega from August 14-23.
The team, led by captains Mary Awino, Wangui, Chelsea Onamu, Trixy Akinyi, Yvonne Sheryl, and Rihanna Mercy, has been consistent participants since their debut in 2018, except for missing the 2019 games. In their first appearance, they finished fourth, which remains their best performance at the regional games so far.
However, last year, the team made a significant leap, securing the silver medal, finishing as runners-up behind St Noa Girls of Uganda. This impressive performance has boosted their confidence and raised expectations for this year's games, especially with the tournament taking place on home soil.
The team's coach, Edwin Sakwa, has expressed optimism about the team's readiness and the lessons learned from past tournaments. He emphasized the importance of training with referees in mind, not being overconfident, and strengthening all departments.
Butere Girls High School will face stiff competition from regional rivals, including Kaya Tiwi, St Joseph's Girls High School Kitale, and Olympic High School. However, they have previously defeated the defending champions Amus College from Uganda, demonstrating their potential to reclaim the title they last won in 2016.
In a surprising turn of events, the team will not be defending the 3x3 East Africa title they won last year due to a focus on the 5X5 version. Nevertheless, they have already achieved their first goal for the year, which was to retain the national basketball title.
The team's coach, Chris Odeke, who was affiliated with the school during the 2025 games, emphasized a game-by-game approach. This approach, combined with the team's past experience and current form, makes Butere Girls High School a top contender in the FEASSSA basketball tournament.
While individual key players are not named in the available sources, the team's strong performances and national qualification in basketball have been widely recognized. Butere Girls High School is aiming to win their maiden East Africa trophy in basketball, making this year's FEASSSA games an exciting opportunity for the team and their fans.
[1] source for Butere Girls High School's past performances and coach's optimism [2] source for Butere Girls High School's debut and missing the 2019 games [3] source for Butere Girls High School's recognition and national qualification [4] source for Butere Girls High School's focus on 5X5 version and individual players [5] source for coach Chris Odeke's affiliation with Butere Girls High School
- The strong business strategy implemented by Butere Girls High School, focusing on their consistent performance in sports, such as basketball, and their success in regional tournaments like FEASSSA, has resulted in an increase in epaper coverage and widespread recognition for the school's sports department.
- To maintain their top position in sports, especially basketball, Butere Girls High School's basketball team is set to engage in rigorous business-like training sessions, strengthening all departments, as advised by their coaches, in order to prepare for the upcoming FEASSSA games and potential competition from regional rivals.
