MOROGORO, Tanzania — The East African Development Bank (EADB) has committed Sh11.6 million (USD90,000) to support the 23rd Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) Games being held in Morogoro, Tanzania.
The regional school games have brought together 413 teams and 5,548 participants competing across 51 sporting disciplines, making the tournament one of the largest secondary school sports competitions in East Africa.
Speaking during the official opening ceremony, EADB Tanzania Country Manager Stephen Wambura said the bank’s sponsorship was part of its broader commitment to investing in young people and supporting initiatives that promote healthy lifestyles, character development and opportunities for the region’s youth.
“While our core mandate is financing development projects across key sectors of the economy, we recognize that sustainable development goes beyond infrastructure and enterprises. It also means investing in people, especially young people, who represent the future of our region,” Wambura said.
He said EADB had partnered with FEASSA as the title sponsor of the 23rd edition and committed USD90,000 towards the successful delivery of the tournament.
“Sports sponsorship is one of the key pillars of our Corporate Social Initiatives (CSI) agenda because we understand the transformative power of sports in shaping character, promoting healthy lifestyles and unlocking opportunities for young people in our region,” he said.
The sponsorship will support the production of medals and trophies, as well as playing kits for teams participating in the finals.
Wambura said the investment was intended to go beyond supporting the competition itself by contributing to the development of future East African leaders.
Kenya fields 125 teams
Defending champions Kenya have sent one of the largest contingents to the tournament, with 125 teams and 1,704 participants competing in more than 40 disciplines.
Kenya is seeking to retain the overall championship it won in Kakamega last year, with strong medal prospects in football, volleyball, rugby and basketball.
In boys’ football, Kakamega School and St Mary’s Yala lead Kenya’s campaign, while St Joseph’s Girls Kitale and Nyakach Girls will represent the country in the girls’ competition.
In volleyball, national champions Kesogon Girls will be joined by Soweto Academy and Mwitoti Secondary School, while Chesamis Boys, Matiliku Secondary School and Chepsaita Secondary School headline Kenya’s boys’ campaign.
Rugby and basketball teams target medals
Kenya’s rugby contingent includes Kisii School, Upper Hill School and St Mary’s Yala in the boys’ 15s competition.
In rugby sevens, Butula Boys, Cardinal Otunga Mosocho and Bokoli Boys will carry the country’s hopes.
In basketball, Lukenya School and Friends School Kamusinga will compete in the boys’ 5×5 category, while Kaya Tiwi and Butere Girls will represent Kenya in the girls’ competition.
The tournament brings together school teams from across East Africa, with Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi also competing for regional honours.
The games are scheduled to conclude on August 22, when the overall champions will be determined.
For EADB, the sponsorship represents an investment in youth development through sport, while for Kenya, the tournament provides another opportunity to test its strength against some of the region’s best secondary school teams as it seeks to defend its FEASSA title.
