Musingu High School social media manager and school games diehard fan Brian Lijembe has offered his assessment of why Kenyan football sides struggled at the ongoing Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) Games in Morogoro, Tanzania.Kenya arrived in Morogoro with four football slots initially allocated in each category, but funding challenges forced the number of representatives to be reduced, leaving only two teams in both the boys’ and girls’ competitions.##NAJAVA_MECA_9901531##Record KSSSA boys’ champions Kakamega School and runners-up St. Mary’s Yala took up the boys’ slots, while St. Joseph’s Girls Kitale and Nyakach Girls carried Kenya’s hopes in the girls’ competition.By the time of publication, Yala, Kakamega and Nyakach had already been eliminated, while St. Joseph’s Girls Kitale remained Kenya’s only hope of progressing further.Having followed the FEASSSA Games from the ground for more than three years, Lijembe, popularly known as Leejay Africa, believes the performances of the Kenyan football representatives have exposed a preparation gap that needs to be addressed before next year’s regional showpiece.The Moi University graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication was impressed by the quality of football on display but felt Kenya could have achieved more with better preparation, particularly against opponents who arrived with a clear understanding of what the competition demanded.“FEASSSA football, I am happy with the results I saw, but for Team Kenya it has been very unlucky. It has been a very competitive tournament,” he said.According to the passionate school games follower, the draw also presented Kenyan teams with a difficult path, particularly in the boys’ competition where Kakamega faced more than one Ugandan opponent, while Tanzania’s status as hosts added another layer to an already demanding contest.“If you look at Kakamega, they met Ugandan opponents, more than one, and the Ugandans are always good, so it gave them a challenge,” he explained.FEASSSA: Nyakach coach identifies experience gap as stumbling block, demands more from Junior Starlets starsHe also believes playing in Tanzania created an environment where the hosts enjoyed an advantage, although he acknowledged that Kenya’s struggles cannot be attributed to officiating or the draw alone.“You look at the Tanzanians, they are playing at home and as hosts, you realise that everything, every call, seems to go their side,” he added.Lijembe, however, maintained that Kenya’s biggest lesson from Morogoro should be the need for improved preparation, arguing that the regional stage requires more than simply arriving with the best teams from the national competition.“A lot of factors have contributed, but preparedness for a tournament is always important for Team Kenya. I thought Yala would have had a slight chance, but now things have collapsed for both Kakamega and Yala. Things haven’t gone well,” he said.FEASSSA: Team Kenya captain Garcia turns injury setbacks into a dream of becoming a nurseWhile football has provided a disappointing return for Kenya, the wider performance across other disciplines has given the country reasons to remain optimistic.Musingu High School has already claimed the FEASSSA lacrosse title, while St. Anthony’s Boys Kitale and Kamusinga remained in contention in hockey, raising the possibility of an all-Kenyan final.In handball, Musingu Tornadoes booked their place in the final after a commanding 29-15 victory over Kakungulu Memorial, adding another strong performance to Kenya’s growing medal prospects in Morogoro.FEASSSA 2026: A look at cost of meals, transport, beer, water and essentials in Tanzania for KenyansFor Lijembe, the success across other disciplines is a reminder that Kenyan schools continue to possess considerable talent, with collaboration between teams, coaches and supporters helping create a stronger sporting environment.“In handball we have Tornadoes, we have lacrosse, and I also have friends who are coaches in hockey. We are here to help each other in sports,” he said.“In handball, the teams have been doing well, and the same applies to lacrosse, where we have a better chance of getting to the semis. Kamusinga and St. Anthony are also doing well in hockey, and I am glad they are all Kenyan sides. We want to present them and cheer for them,” he added.FEASSSA: How fasting and prayer are propelling St. Joseph’s Girls Kitale towards a first regional titleBeyond supporting his school and following the Kenyan teams, Lijembe’s presence in Morogoro has also been an investment in his own journalism journey.With Musingu unable to qualify for this year’s FEASSSA Games, he still made the trip to Tanzania, using the tournament as an opportunity to watch different sporting disciplines while expanding his network among journalists, coaches and players.“I am in Tanzania to see the sports and network. Even if my team, Musingu, did not manage to be here, I am still here to watch other sports,” he said.FEASSSA 2026: Ng’iya Girls’ goal machine opens up on how hockey talent earned her scholarship
87