Excitement, tension, resilience and desire to excel will take centre stage as hunt for tickets to this year’s Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National Term One games begin at Buruburu Girls and other venues.

Ofafa Jericho, Aquinas High School, Highway, Uhuru Sports Complex, Kenya Assemblies of God (KAG), State House Girls, Huruma Girls and Aga Khan will co-host the Nairobi Region games.  

At stake are regional bragging rights and a place to the 2025 national games set for April 7-12 at Shanzu Teachers College and Shimo La Tewa High School, Mombasa.

The reigning champions will launch their title defence campaign as they look to extend their reign as well as secure a return to the nationals. However, they will have to be at their best for them to achieve that feat.

Dagoretti High School, who have ruled Nairobi in boys’ basketball since 2018 when they won their maiden regional title, will begin their quest in Group A against St Teresa’s Boys and Waylight Secondary School.

Ditchez, as they are popularly known, will be looking to bag their sixth title in a row. Their main aim is to return to the national games and redeem themselves following last year’s dismal show that saw them finish fourth.

Dagoretti captain Fidel Osudo said they want to improve on last year’s performance.

“Last year was not very good for us and I guess we were not well prepared compared to our opponents. We want to improve on that, but first we are focused on defending the regional title,” Osudo said.

In Group B, Lenana School will take on Jamhuri High and Garden Estate in hunt for a place to the round of 16.

Former champions Upper Hill, who have been overshadowed by Dagoretti High and last featured at the national games in 2017, will play in Group G against Hospital Hill and Aquinas.

In the girls’ contest, holders Buruburu Girls will capitalise on home advantage when they welcome Clay City Secondary School and Moi Educational Centre in Group A.

Olympic Secondary School, Peter Kibukosya and Pangani Girls will battle in Group B while former holders Parklands Arya, Our Lady of Mercy Shauri Moyo and St George’s Girls will face off in Group E.   

In handball, girls’ champions Dagoretti Mixed will take on Shammah Secondary School in their opening Group A match, then play Olympic Secondary in their second encounter.

Highridge Girls, Mathari Mixed and Pangani Girls play in Group B whereas Buruburu, Zawadi Secondary and Mwangaza Secondary will play in Group H.

Hospital Hill, who lost their boys’ national title to Western Region’s St Luke’s Kimilili, will be seeking to extend their regional dominance.

They begin their quest in Group A against Olympic then play Kahawa Garrisson in their second pool match.

Lenana School will tackle Mathari Mixed and Dagoretti High in Group D, while Aquinas will play Dr Ribeiro Parklands and Drumvale Secondary School in Group C.

In rugby 15s, regional champions Lenana School will today take on Jamhuri High in the quarter-finals.

Former champions Upper Hill and Dagoretti High will play Aquinas and Ofafa Jericho respectively while Nairobi School will tackle Strathmore School.

The hockey contest has been whittled down to the last eight following the culmination of the regional league.

Top four teams in each group advanced to the last eight. Defending champions Nairobi School and Pangani Girls are still in the race to defend their trophies.