In a bid to unlock the vast potential of talented schools and players across the country, the Kenya Secondary School Sports Association (KSSSA) is being urged to reevaluate the representation of teams in the National games.

Former Shabana and Migori Youth coach, Robert Ojienda, is advocating for an increase in the number of teams from each region, believing that this move will expose more talent to the world.

KSSSA Regionals

Ojienda, who has extensively analyzed high school soccer across the country, emphasized that the current policy of having only one representative per region is hindering the development of football talent.

He suggested that KSSSA should consider having two teams from each region compete at the National level.

He said regions such as Western, Rift Valley, Nairobi, and parts of Nyanza have been particularly affected by the limited representation, with several talented schools and players missing out on the opportunity to showcase their skills on the national stage.

Ojienda highlighted that the finals at the county level in these regions often display a higher quality of football compared to some of the National KSSSA games.

KSSSA should consider

“I have gone around this country doing high school soccer analysis in terms of teams actively involved in nurturing soccer talents and came out with one conclusion. The body running secondary school sports – KSSSA should consider picking two teams per Region. Several good talents are locked out because each Region is only allowed to give a slot at the National level.

“Western, Rift Valley, Nairobi and partly Nyanza those days have suffered the most. The finals at the county level of some of the above-mentioned Regions are far much ahead of the quality we meet at the National ball games.

“Take for instance in Nairobi, Dagoretti vs Highway, Musingu vs Shanderema in Western then come St. Antony’s vs Goseta Boys in Trans Nzoia,” Ojienda asserted.

“The level of football displayed in some of these Regions is exceptional. High school football plays a key role in the development of the sport in the country, and more attention should be given to ensure a good number of teams get the right exposure during their ball games,”

Ojienda also predicted that the national trophy might be heading to Kitale in Trans Nzoia County, with St. Antony’s Kitale, also known as Solidarity Boys, emerging as a formidable team.

KSSSA predicted MVP

He believes Adrian Kibet, a standout player from St. Antony is likely to be the tournament’s Most Valuable Player at the Nationals.

“I see the national trophy going to Kitale in Trans Nzoia county, St. Antonys’ Kitale aka Solidarity Boys looks unstoppable with Adrian Kibet likely to be MVP the boy is in a class of his own,” he concluded.

Shanderema School (Western), St.Antony (Rift Valley), Dagoretti High (Nairobi), Serani School (Coast), Matiliku boys, (Eastern) Kirangari High (Central) and Bute high (North Eastern) are teams that have qualified for the Nationals.