Kisumu Day High School’s football team has received a major boost ahead of the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) competitions after the school’s Alumni Association donated a new set of official jerseys to the team.
The donation is expected to strengthen the morale of the players as the team popularly known as ‘Yudhe’ seeks to reclaim its place among Kenya’s top school football teams.
Kisumu Day remains one of the most successful football powerhouses in the Nyanza region, having consistently dominated county and regional championships over the years.
Speaking during the presentation ceremony, Principal Rabet Abidha hailed the gesture, describing the alumni as key stakeholders in the institution’s growth both academically and in co-curricular activities.
“The main aim of this institution is to ensure that students excel academically. We have to go back to where we were in terms of mean grade and the number of students joining university,” said Abidha.
He noted that the school’s academic performance had improved significantly, with the mean grade rising from 4.1 to 6.1 and 129 students qualifying for university admission last year.
The Principal added that the school had also expanded participation in co-curricular activities, registering notable achievements across various disciplines.
“This year we ensured that students participated in all disciplines, including athletics and handball. For the first time, our handball team reached the county level. In hockey, we are heading to the East Africa championships,” he said.
Abidha revealed that the football team’s latest support package was the result of continued engagement between the school and former students passionate about the sport.
“We have been liaising with several Alumni who are extremely passionate about football, and it has culminated in the presentation of these jerseys. You can see the excitement among the players and the entire school. I believe these jerseys will inspire the team to perform even better on the field,” he said.
He pledged continued collaboration with the Alumni Association, saying their support remained crucial to the institution’s success.
Team captain, Rio Ferdinando Oyugi, expressed gratitude for the donation, saying the players were highly motivated and determined to reward the alumni’s faith in them with strong performances.
The attacking midfielder said the team had been preparing intensively since the December holidays in readiness for this year’s competitions.
“We have been preparing since December. Even when KCSE examinations were going on, we remained in school training and preparing for this moment,” said Oyugi.
He expressed confidence that the team could make a deep run in this year’s championships after falling short last season.
“We believe this is our year. Last year was disappointing for us, but this season we are focused on reaching the national finals. We are grateful to the Alumni for the support and for providing us with new jerseys,” he said.
Oyugi promised that the players would fight hard throughout the campaign in pursuit of success.
Representing the Alumni Association, Cleophas Oluoch, said the initiative was aimed at boosting the players’ morale as they seek to restore the school’s footballing glory.
Oluoch reaffirmed the Alumni’s commitment to supporting both the football programme and the broader development of the school.
“We want to motivate the players and remind them that the entire Kisumu Day family is behind them. As alumni, we shall continue supporting the school and the football team as they work towards regaining their past glory,” said Oluoch.
The donation comes at a crucial time as Kisumu Day prepares for the upcoming KSSSA football season, with hopes high that the fresh backing from former students will inspire another successful chapter in the school’s rich football history.
Dy Chris Mahandara
