By Eddah Waithaka
St. John’s Junior Secondary School from Korogocho and Olympic Junior Secondary School from Kibera emerged as the champions of the M-PESA Jr. NBA Nairobi edition, capping off an exhilarating two-day tournament at the Sabis International School Basketball Arena.
In a thrilling Boys’ final, St. John’s JSS narrowly defeated Olympic JSS 16-13 in a tightly contested 5-on-5 showdown. St. John’s Byron Onyango set the pace early with a smooth two-pointer, while Olympic’s Antony Onyango kept the game competitive, bringing the score to 9-7 by halftime.
Despite Olympic’s relentless efforts to stage a comeback in the second half, St. John’s held firm, securing a 7-6 run to clinch the championship. The Girls’ final, however, saw Olympic JSS dominate St. John’s JSS with a commanding 25-3 victory.
Coach Ezra Alenga’s team controlled the game from the start, ending the first half with a 13-3 lead. They maintained their defensive intensity in the second half, shutting out St. John’s 12-0 to seal their triumph.
During the awards ceremony, Brian Busaka, Head Coach of St. John’s JSS, expressed his gratitude. “First, I want to thank the Jr. NBA and the Safaricom M-PESA team for organizing this wonderful tournament, providing our young players with a platform to showcase their talents. This has been a great experience, especially for those who have never played in such high-quality facilities. They have also had the opportunity to interact and learn not just about basketball but also about the financial literacy services offered by the M-PESA team. Our opponents were tough and highly experienced, pushing us to our limits, but we played a tactical game, which ultimately led us to victory.”
As part of their victory, players from both winning teams received smartphones and airtime courtesy of Safaricom M-PESA. Cecilia Amimo of Olympic JSS shared her excitement, saying, “Being crowned Jr. NBA Nairobi champions is something we are incredibly happy about as a team. This is a historic moment in our basketball journey. We came prepared, knowing the competition would be tough, and our hard work paid off. Training consistently gave us the edge, and we dominated on both ends of the court. I am also thrilled to receive a smartphone from Safaricom—it’s an amazing reward that I personally didn’t expect. Tournaments like this will inspire more young players to take up the game and dream big.”
Both St. John’s JSS (Boys) and Olympic JSS (Girls) advanced to the finals after defeating Makini School and Daima School with scores of 16-14 and 26-4, respectively.
In the Boys’ category, Makini School and Harambee JSS from Buruburu secured third and fourth place, while Daima and Chrisco Junior Secondary Schools finished third and fourth in the Girls’ category.
Read More On : https://africawatchnews.co.ke/guchi-arrives-in-kenya-for-fan-connection-and-cultural-exchange/
The Nairobi edition of the tournament featured 550 players from 40 teams representing 24 schools across the city. Beyond the on-court action, Safaricom integrated financial literacy sessions through M-PESA Go, equipping participants with essential financial management skills.
Victor Odada, Head of M-PESA Payments at Safaricom, highlighted the initiative’s impact. “The Nairobi edition has been amazing, witnessing a huge number of players from all walks of life. As Safaricom through M-PESA, we are happy to be part of this initiative geared toward supporting, nurturing, and transforming the lives of young Kenyans. We are not only exposing their talents to the world but also educating and equipping them with essential financial management skills.”
Michael Finley, NBA Africa’s Kenya Country Lead, praised the tournament’s success. “We have made a strong start in the Nairobi region, with an impressive turnout. We aimed for 400 players, but the turnout exceeded expectations, with over 500 participants taking part. The level of talent displayed over the past two days, despite some schools lacking proper basketball facilities, highlights the immense potential we have as a country. We want to continue empowering and supporting these young talents and help them grow their careers through basketball.”
With the Nairobi edition concluded, the M-PESA Jr. NBA tournament now heads to Mombasa, where it will take place on March 8th and 9th, 2025, at the Aga Khan Academy. The next chapter promises to deliver more thrilling basketball action and opportunities for young talent to shine.
Read More Stories At: https://africawatchnews.co.ke/
