Over 400 boys and girls are taking part in the Kenya Academy of Sports (KAS) Annual Sports Camp in Kisumu, as the academy continues its mission to identify and grow young talent across the country.

The Nyanza regional camp is being held at Kisumu Boys High School and St Theresa’s Girls Secondary School, Kibuye, and has brought together students scouted during this year’s Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) Term One and Term Two games.

The camp, which runs for 10 days, has 206 boys based at Kisumu Boys High School, while the girls are camping at St Theresa’s. Students are receiving training in football, volleyball, basketball, swimming, lawn tennis and rugby under the guidance of experienced coaches.

Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) Development Officer and rugby coach Ronald Okoth said the camp is key to building future national teams.

“As KRU, we are doing this training all over the country. It is high intensity training that will help us assemble strong teams for the Under 16, Under 17, Under 19 and Under 20 levels,” Okoth said.

He added that the Kisumu camp has attracted talented players who are eager to learn and improve.

One of the beneficiaries is Brian Makori from Cardinal Otunga High School, Mosocho. The young rugby player said the camp has opened his eyes beyond school competitions.

“This program will help me prepare better for next year’s school games. I am also learning from coaches and experts outside my school, which is helping me grow and build networks,” Makori said. “It is a big step towards professionalism and my future career in rugby.”

Girls’ rugby has also been given strong focus. Nicole Adhiambo from Tigoi Girls High School said the camp has motivated her to chase her rugby dream. Tigoi Girls are known for hockey and are the national champions, but Nicole believes rugby can also shine.

“This camp is helping me improve my skills and confidence. I want to prove that even in a hockey school, rugby players can succeed,” she said.

In lawn tennis, coach Francis Jeff Owili said his focus is to introduce and grow the sport among young athletes in Nyanza.

“This region is known for football, rugby, basketball and hockey. We want to show students the beauty of lawn tennis and help them fall in love with the game from a young age,” Owili said.

Paul Ngugi, a student from Kisumu Boys High School, said the camp has helped him sharpen his tennis skills.

“The training has been intense and detailed. I am learning things I never knew before, and it has made me a better player,” he said.

KAS Director John Okwemba praised the progress of the camp so far.

 “The Nyanza camp has over 400 students, and the response has been very good. The coaches are committed, and the athletes are disciplined and eager to learn. We thank the Ministry for giving us the support as we continue to build teams for the future,” Okwemba said.

The Kisumu camp is part of a nationwide KAS Holiday Sports Camp running from December 11 to 20, 2025, across seven regions: Eldoret, Kisumu, Kakamega, Nyeri, Mombasa, Nairobi and Wajir.

The program aims to bridge the gap between school sports and elite performance, laying a strong foundation for Kenya’s future champions.