Mbita High, Rang’ala crowned inaugural Nyanza schools chess champions
Mbita High clinched the boys’ title after amassing 19 points from six wins and one draw during the three-day competition at Homa Bay High School.
Chess made a successful and highly competitive debut at the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) Term Two Games, with Mbita High and Rang’ala Girls emerging as the inaugural Nyanza regional champions in Homa Bay.
Mbita High clinched the boys’ title after amassing 19 points from six wins and one draw during the three-day competition at Homa Bay High School.
Kanga High finished second with 16 points from five wins and one loss, while Maseno School placed third on 15 points after recording four wins and three draws.
Mbita and Kanga booked their tickets to the KSSSA National Term Two Games, scheduled for July 28 to August 1 at the MPESA Foundation Academy in Thika.
In the girls’ competition, Rang’ala Girls dominated the field to win the title with 19 points, ahead of Nyamira Girls on 15 points and Nyakach Girls on 13.
Rang’ala and Nyamira Girls, both from Siaya County, qualified to represent the region at the national championships. Mbita High’s Elvis Onditi was crowned the inaugural boys’ individual champion after producing a flawless performance, scoring a perfect seven points from seven matches.
He finished ahead of Dau Chol of Kisumu Boys, who scored six points, while Samuel Efim of Chianda Boys also finished on six points to take third place.
In the girls’ individual category, Zena Ibrahim of Sironga Girls also recorded a perfect seven wins from seven matches to claim the inaugural title.
Ibrahim, who trains under the Chess Kenya Federation’s Elite Chess Academy programme, finished ahead of Michele Kwamboka of Nyakach Girls and Eunice Awuor of Koru Girls, who each scored six points to finish second and third respectively.
Chess Kenya Federation (CKF) Chess for Schools coordinator Saphina Kenyanyo hailed the successful introduction of the sport at the regional games.
Junior Starlets secure second successive FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup berth
Odemba further proposed regular youth training camps and international friendly matches, particularly during school holidays, to monitor player development and maintain continuity across the national team ranks.
Harambee Starlets head coach Beldine Odemba has urged the Government and Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to intensify investment in the Junior Starlets after Kenya was drawn into a challenging Group E for the 2026 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup.
Coach Mildred Cheche’s side will face China, the United States and Samoa in Morocco as they seek to become the first Kenyan football team to progress beyond the group stage of a FIFA World Cup.
The Junior Starlets will open their campaign against China on October 19 at the Women’s Football Complex, Pitch 1, before taking on the United States three days later at the same venue.
Kenya’s Junior Starlets booked their place at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after beating South Africa 3-1 in the second leg of their final qualifying round at Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday.
Roared on by a capacity home crowd, the Junior Starlets completed a commanding 5-1 aggregate victory after taking a 2-0 advantage from the first leg in Pretoria to qualify for a second consecutive World Cup.
South Africa’s Bantwana made a bright start and silenced the home fans in the fifth minute when captain Katleho Malebana capitalised on a defensive lapse to reduce the aggregate deficit.
The visitors dominated possession for much of the first half, forcing Kenya to defend deep as the technically gifted South Africans searched for another goal.
Kenya emerged from the break with renewed intensity and turned the contest around in impressive fashion. Gaudencia Maloba headed home the equaliser before Brenda Awuor calmly converted a penalty to give the hosts the lead.
Substitute Elizabeth Alizeba then capped a clinical counter-attack moments after coming off the bench, sealing a 3-1 victory and sparking jubilant celebrations among thousands of fans who had responded to the #BringTheGameHome campaign.
Maloba had rallied supporters before the decisive encounter, urging Kenyans to fill Nyayo Stadium. “We want to welcome all Kenyans, starting with our President, to come and watch our match. We promise we will not disappoint. We know South Africa is a good team and will come with a different mentality, but we are up to the task,” she said.
The qualification marks another milestone for coach Mildred Cheche, who guided Kenya to their maiden FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup appearance in 2024. She is now the first Kenyan coach to lead a national football team to two FIFA World Cup tournaments.
The expanded 24-team tournament will be staged in Morocco from October 17 to November 7, 2026. Cheche had warned against complacency despite Kenya’s first-leg advantage, insisting her players had prepared for every possible scenario.
“For every game, we prepare for all situations. We prepare for a draw, a loss and a win, but at this particular moment we were preparing for a win,” she said.
South Africa coach Nompumelelo Khumalo had challenged her side to improve their finishing and defensive organisation after the first-leg defeat, but Bantwana were unable to overturn the deficit.
While qualification is another historic achievement for Kenya, the Junior Starlets will seek greater consistency ahead of the World Cup after spending long spells without the ball against South Africa. Their resilience and clinical finishing, however, underlined why they remain one of Africa’s most promising young sides as they prepare for Morocco.
“Change our lifestyle”: Junior Starlets vice-captain asks Ruto for housing and medical support
Junior Starlets assistant captain Beverlyne Owuor has appealed to President William Ruto to improve the welfare of Kenyan footballers by providing medical insurance and affordable housing.
Owuor said many players come from disadvantaged backgrounds and struggle to access healthcare and decent living conditions.
And the good days for Kenya continues in Brazil.
Former Chelsea star Willian Borges da Silva meets Kipchoge in Brazil, praises his legacy
Willian described meeting the Kenyan distance-running icon as a privilege.
Former Chelsea and Brazil winger Willian Borges da Silva has hailed marathon great Eliud Kipchoge as “a true legend” after the pair met in Brazil and shared a memorable exchange of signed jerseys.
The meeting brought together two of sport’s most recognisable figures, with Willian documenting the occasion on social media through a series of photos showing the pair chatting, shaking hands, signing jerseys and posing together with broad smiles.
The encounter appeared to take place at a hotel or rooftop terrace in the evening, overlooking the city skyline under a fading twilight sky.Willian described meeting the Kenyan distance-running icon as a privilege.
“It was a true honor to meet you, @kipchogeeliud. Thank you for everything you’ve done and continue to do for sport. Your discipline, humility, and greatness have inspired millions around the world. You are a true legend,” the Willian wrote.
Former Chelsea and Brazil winger Willian Borges da Silva receiving a signed jersey from world marathon recorder Eliud Kipchoge when they met in Brazil
Kipchoge responded warmly, saying the admiration was mutual while expressing hope that the two would continue inspiring young people through sport.
“It was a great honor to meet you as well, my friend. Let’s keep inspiring kids in Brazil and around the world,” the Olympic marathon champion replied.
One of the standout moments from the meeting was the exchange of signed sporting memorabilia.
Kipchoge received one of Willian’s Grêmio shirts bearing the winger’s name and iconic No. 10, complete with a personal message and signature.
Willian, in turn, was presented with one of Kipchoge’s signature white Nike marathon singlets, also personally signed by the Kenyan great.
