After months of preparations, the 2025 Brookside Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) national term one games are set to get underway, starting on Tuesday, April 8, 2025.

This year’s edition, to be held across Shimo la Tewa, Shanzu, and Aga Khan Schools, will see over 1,200 students competing in athletics, basketball, hockey, cross country, handball, rugby, and swimming.

The rugby 15s, handball, and basketball will be played at Shimo La Tewa, while athletics, hockey, and selected handball matches will be at Shanzu Teachers College as per the organizers’ schedule.

Swimming will be staged at the Aga Khan Academy on Thursday, April 10, 2025, and Friday, April 11, 2025.

The on-pitch action will begin on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, and continue through Saturday, April 12, 2025.

As part of the preparations, the referees’ and umpires’ coordination clinics were conducted on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at the Shimo la Tewa School ahead of the five-day intense action.

Meanwhile, the participants from all regions are scheduled to arrive in Mombasa on Sunday, April 6, 2025, a day before the official opening ceremony.

Renewing rivalries

Among the much-awaited match-ups is the rubgy 15s category, where reigning champions All Saints Embu are expected to mount a strong defense for their title.

All Saints, who also double up as the East Africa (FEASSSA) champions, have been drawn in pool A alongside hosts Serani Boys, Upper Hill (Nairobi), and Mang’u High (Central).

Pool B has Marafa Secondary (Coast), Vihiga Boys (Western), Bwake Boys (Rift Valley), and Kisii School (Nyanza).

In girls hockey, Tigoi Girls from Western will face off against Nyanza’s Ng’iya Girls, St. John’s Kaloleni (Coast), and Mpesa Academy (Central) in Group B.

In the Boys handball category, the much-hyped Matiliku Boys will fancy their chances after landing in a fair-looking group A alongside Sabunley (North Eastern), Manyatta Boys (Nyanza) and Highway Secondary of Nairobi.

St. Luke’s Kimilili Boys (Western), Makuyu Boys (Central), Jaribuni Sec (Coast) and St. Albert Kamito of Rift Valley are pooled in Group B.

Financial boost

The foregoing comes as the competition’s sponsors, Brookside Dairy, injected Ksh30 million as sponsorship for the competition. The cash will go towards the kitting of all players, trophies, certificates, and other logistics associated with hosting the games.

The financial support marks a continuation of the company’s long-standing association with sponsoring the games that started 22 years ago.

Speaking during a past event, Brookside Dairy Corporate Communication Manager Wilson Okong’o tipped the partnership to help aid in churning out the next generation of stars across various sports disciplines.

“We are confident that with our investment, the Brookside Term One games will continue to provide a perfect launching pad for careers in sports by harnessing talent in various sports disciplines,” Okong’o said.