Kwanthanze, Cheptil crowned East Africa volleyball champions

The multiple national winners came from a set down to beat defending champions and compatriots Kesogon 3-1 sets, completing a historic double after dominating the Kenya Secondary School Sports Association (KSSSA) National Term Two Games earlier this month against the same opponent.

Kesogon prevailed in the first set 25-23 before Kwanthanze threw a spanner in the works to dominate the subsequent sets in 25–22, 25–13, 25–18 as they punched sole ticket reserved for Africa in the World Secondary Schools Sports Games.

This marked the first time since 2019 Kwanthanze secured a clean sweep after Kesogon, who have been on a meteoric rise, put brakes on their dominance in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Kwanthanze head coach Justin Kigwari praised his charges for playing according to their game plan.

“We’ve played according to our game plan. We perfected blocking, setting and also receiving,” he said.

“Kesogon has been a good side for the last three years and they still are but we had to show who are the volleyball queens of the region. Our focus now is to represent Africa in the grand stage-the world-and we hope to get the chance to put on the national colours in the big stage.”

Kigwari's opposite number John Marani blamed lack of experience in the current Kesogon squad for their loss.

“This year we were not up to the standards. We couldn’t match Kwanthanze in many aspects but we hope to bounce back next year.”

In the national final, Kesogon lost 3-0 sets to Kwanthanze who have dropped one set since the inter-school games started in zonal levels.

In the boys’ contest, Kenya’s Cheptil survived a late scare to see off Namugongo of Uganda 3-2 sets, reclaiming the regional title they last won in 2022.

In handball girls’, Moi Girls Kamusings delivered gold to Kenya after edging Mbogo of Uganda 26-25 in a tightly contested final to reclaim the handball title.