Agogo Sare, Ototo clash at Eliud Owalo Foundation tournament
Homabay Champions Agoro Sare and cross-county rivals Ototo are in the quest for dominance of the Nyanza School basketball gong in the Eliud Owalo Foundation tournament which kicks off on February 29 in Kisumu County.
The two-day tournament aims to identifying and nurturing talents.
It will feature twenty-six school teams, evenly split between boys and girls and will be hosted in Kisumu, including at Maseno School, Kisumu Girls, Kisumu Boys, and Kenyatta Sports Ground.
ICT Cabinet Secretary Eliud Owalo says those scouted from this tournament will head for a camp in Nairobi before being slowly integrated into various teams in the Kenyan Basketball League.
Under the tutelage of Coach Benson Ochieng, Agoro Sare are aiming to kickstart their journey to the national championship in Machakos County by trying their luck in the tournament.
Agoro Sare had their dream shattered last year when Ahero Based Onjiko eliminated them at the regional level to head to the nationals.
The team is slated to compete in Group B against formidable opponents Nyansiongo and Migori, setting the stage for a tough group clash on Saturday and Sunday. On the other side, Ototo, under the coaching of Clement Nyakinda, will also not be a pushover.
Ototo Boys, after falling to Agoro Sare in the County finals last year, are seeking revenge via the Eliud Owalo tournament in readiness for the Nyanza regional to earn a spot in the nationals. However, Ototo Girls, showcasing exceptional prowess from the zonal to the national level, emerge as the team to beat in the championship.
Ototo Girls, who reached the nationals and secured a fifth-place finish last year, are once again eyeing the top spot but this time in an organized tournament. Their dominance extends to the 3×3 format, where they outplayed opponents, securing the national championship title.
Onjiko Boys, hailed as the new basketball kings in the Lakeside region and five-time national champions Maseno School are also aiming to keep their profile high in the tournament.
The tournament will feature the participation of twenty-six school teams, evenly split between boys and girls and will be hosted in Kisumu, including Maseno School, Kisumu Girls, Kisumu Boys, and Kenyatta Sports Ground.
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