Malaba Township Junior secondary school, Teso North Sub-County, has emerged as the Busia County champions in the basketball boy’s category.
In the girl’s category, Lugulu AC Junior Secondary from Butula Sub County became the winners during term one primary and junior secondary school finals, held at Busia stadium.
The two, together with Busende Junior secondary and Nambale Urban Junior secondary teams for boys and girls’ categories, respectively, which finished as runners-up, will represent Busia County for basketball at the regional final.
In the track events for primary schools, Bunyala Sub-County emerged the winner with 166 points, Teso North was second with 151 points, while Teso Central Sub-County was third with 123 points.
Teso South Sub County was fourth with 122 points, while Butula finished fifth with 121 points. Nambale and Samia Sub-Counties tied with 86 points and Busia Sub-County was the last with 28 points.
In the Junior secondary category, Teso Central were the winners with 176 points, followed by Teso South with 141 points.
The third position was Teso North with 133 points, while Bunyala Sub County finished fourth with 120 points.
Butula and Nambale Sub-Counties tied with 119 points at the fifth position, while Samia Sub-County became seventh with 98 points. Busia Sub County finished last with 38 points.
Rugby 15’s for both boys’ and girls’ categories finals were not played after concerns of age cheating were raised, forcing the committee to suspend the finals until the raised concerns are determined.
Moses Wanyama, who was the sponsor and chief guest, called on the county government of Busia to invest in infrastructure that will give opportunity for the training of the children.
“We want to ask the county government to construct Busia stadium so that it can provide an opportunity to many of our children.
It is shameful that, as a county, we don’t even have a single stadium despite being the source of the talents in all sports categories.
We have witnessed many talents here that need to be nurtured for them to be able to shine, and that will only work if we invest in infrastructure as a county,” he said.
Wanyama also urged the ministry of education to increase the co-curriculum kitty fund to enable schools to prepare students for competitions to nurture young talents.
“Our teachers are facing a difficult time preparing these children for such competition due to a lack of enough funds. We are calling on the ministry of education to increase the kitty for schools’ co-curricular activities funds so that all children can get equal opportunity to prepare and showcase their talent,” he said.
Teso Sub County Education quality assurance officer Hellen Milomo, who represented the County Director for Education, assured the team of their support, urging them to use that opportunity to showcase their talents.
“We are going to support all the learners who have been selected to represent the county. We are now going to the regional as the county and our aim should be nothing other than success. We are fully behind our learners as they show their talents,” she said.
Milomo urged the selected team to put in more effort, stating that the regional finals can provide an opportunity that will change one’s life together with giving them an opportunity to showcase them.
The western primary and junior secondary term one school games will be held from 1st April at Eregi Teachers Training College.
By Rodgers Omondi and Evans Wandera
