Swimming

Hilary 2022 saw Peponi take a number of our teams to the County rounds of the International Schools Swimming Championships, KSF Nairobi County and KSF National Swimming Meets where, pre-COVID, we have enjoyed an annual presence. Spurred on by an inspired team captain, Anaya Jessa, with rousing speeches and encouraging words, the team fought hard to work on their training and compete to their strengths during meets. ey fought for fantastic opportunities to showcase their development as they gained tremendous momentum through the season. Our Head of Swimming, Paul Oduor would like to mention Carlo Blunsum, Kario Karani, Ayaan Jessa, Diva Shah, Darsh Shah, Harnek Singh, Katanu Muidi, Kavata Muidi, andie Muya, Julian Colville, Maisha Done and Rianna Shah who all competed and gained an incredibly amount of silverware throughout the entire season. eir e orts at the swimming meets ranked us head-to-head with a number of meet records, setting multiple new school records in the process.

Boys’ Basketball

Peponi school once again had a good basketball season as we showcase the amazing talent of boys and girls that we have at the school. eir commitment and hard work is applauded by many and the programme is moving swiftly in a positive direction. In Hilary, we hosted both our own U15 Peponi basketball tournament and the U15s KAISSO tournament. Our U19 boys missed out on both KAISSO and Peponi tournaments knock out stages but did demonstrate an admirable level of sportsmanship. Peponi tournaments knock out stages but did demonstrate an admirable level of sportsmanship.

Peponi tournaments knock out stages but did demonstrate an admirable level of sportsmanship. Our U15 boys lead by captain, Mwema Mutinda, did very well and sadly fell short in the nals in both the KAISSO and Hillcrest tournaments. . Our U15B team also had a chance to participate more on our school xtures which was encouraging. A special mention to Andrew Akampa whom during the tournaments, got a huge amount of MVP nominations. Our head coach, Ancet Wafula, was also voted for as the Coach of the Year for running a nonpro t organisation that aims at providing opportunities for underprivileged girls to learn and develop basketball skills. We are very proud of the work that Coach Ancet has done in the world of basketball in Nairobi.

Cricket

2022/23 Peponi cricket has maintained an exceptional standard of play across all competitions and age groups. Both the under 15 & under 19 boys’ groups progressed their way into the nals KAISSO competitions after some hard-fought pool-stage victories. Our Lower Fifth, all the way through to our Upper Sixth cohorts also had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to tour Stellenbosch and Cape Town in South Africa to play against some of the world’s most renowned schools for cricket, which was a good eye opener for all the boys and a truly unrivalled learning experience. It was a year for the archives that also saw one of our own, Saavir Karania (L6), represent Kenya in the under 19 Cricket World Cup quali ers that was held in Nigeria in September & October at just 16 years old. He maintains a central part of the national set up that will be looking to continue their quali cation bid for the World Cup next year and we wish him the very best.

Girls’ Basketball

Girls’ basketball in Peponi has gained popularity amongst pupils, sparking an immense interest. Both boys and girls participate, scrambling for balls and eagerly rushing to the court. e girls, especially the juniors, have embraced the sport with the help of coaches Ancet Wafula and Dun. e junior girls' team, including some newcomers, surprised everyone by becoming the KAIISSO Division One champions. Despite an initial loss, their self-belief drove them to the semi nals and ultimately to a 18-12 victory in the nal against Aga Khan, securing Peponi's rst-ever girls basketball title. Yetini Kiplimo was recognised as the tournament's Most Valuable Player. With junior team members transitioning to the senior team, the future of girls' basketball at Peponi looks very promising. e achievements and passion of the girls in basketball are a testament to their dedication and support from their coaches. Congratulations to them, and we anticipate further growth and success in the coming years.

Girls’ Football

Girls' football in Peponi maintains its presence this year, with interest and participation now picking up 70 girls training under coach Dun, who also introduced early morning and evening sessions to accommodate the numbers. eir dedication resulted in impressive performances at the KAISSO tournament, where the senior team secured third place, led by standout players Palvi Shah, Muthoni Githinji, and Dia Khimasia.

Boys’ & Girls’ Tennis

e mixed age & gender tennis team has performed exceptionally well throughout this season, but especially well in the Peponi Invitational tournament, winning all but one of their matches and emerging as the overall champions. ey demonstrated an impressive range of skillsets, with each contributing their best to secure victories. Despite challenging opponents and matchups, the team remained determined and focused, showing a great resilience throughout the competition. e team's diverse composition, comprising of upcoming talents and experienced Peponians, worked together seamlessly.

UVth and LVth players showcased their potential, giving hope for the team's future. e LVth team excelled, guiding the U15s group to a third place in the KAIISSO Premier League and the Shell pupils, a fourth place in Division 1. eir defensive tact shone, but then scoring goals proved to be our biggest challenge. In Division 1, the –predominantly – Shell team won two matches, drew two, and lost one – an impressive feat for our newcomers. Peponi's depth and talent were evident in being able to eld two teams in the U15s cohort, highlighting their passion for the game. Besides KAISSO, the teams engaged in friendly matches and inter-school competitions, picking up plenty of life lessons along the way to developing a competitive spirit. Supported by the school administration and coaching sta , Peponi's girls' football program looks promising, and is poised for continued success in the coming years.

A mention goes to Aaryan Khimasia for dominating the singles, and to Ruchi & Dylan for persevering to victory in the mixed doubles. For the rst time in Peponi’s history, we were also able to send two full teams to the International School of Kenya tournament, also picking up numerous medals & trophies during the April holidays. A special mention must go to Tirth & Oscar, Abhay and Aarav & Heema.

Closing Remarks

As upholders of excellence, humility, and integrity, we, in the sports department, express our gratitude and admiration to our young athletes for their class performances and approaches to competition in sports during the 2022/23 academic year.

We also want to acknowledge the unity of our sports department, which has been central in providing an invaluable experience during this initial rise of Peponi Sport. To our departing and continuing students, we wish you the best of luck in your lifelong pursuit of sport. We rmly believe that you have been a part of creating something unforgettable at Peponi School.

Mr. Dayne Massey – Director of Sport