After finishing third in the last two editions, St. Joseph’s Girls, Kitale hockey coach John Lusaka has vowed to lift the national trophy when the Brookeside Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) Term One games get underway on Tuesday next week in Mombasa.
Lusaka said: “The girls are now confident and mature and ready to lift the national trophy.”
The week-long national championships will be held at Shimo La Tewa High School and Shanzu Teachers’ Training College.
Lusaka said, despite being the Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) champions, the national trophy has remained elusive.
“I’m confident that the girls will comfortably handle all the teams, not only in our group but also in the other pool when we meet in the semis and finals. This is our year,” said Lusaka.
St. Joseph’s Girls, Kitale, popularly known as JOGA, will start their hunt for the title in Pool A against AIC Nyayo, St. Charles Lwanga and Mwiki. Defending champions Tigoi Girls will battle it out with newly crowned Nyanza champions Ng’iya Girls, St. John’s Kaloleni and Mpesa Academy in Pool B.
He added: “I respect all the teams but we don’t fear them. We shall approach all games confidently but cautiously.”
He said the team will bank on the Rift Valley region’s Most Valuable Player Mitchelle Jeptoo, Valarie Joy and Mary Adhiambo among others to deliver the national trophy.
He attributed the team’s success to consistent training and support from the chief principal, Rosebella Orwaru.
“Our principal has been very supportive both on and off the pitch. When we are playing, she is always on the touch-line cheering and has properly equipped our teams,” he added.
He said their motto this year is: “I’ll bring gold instead of bronze.”
He revealed that they have been training train throughout the year and their players are super fit.
“We will easily acclimatise to the coast weather and the girls are ready and raring to go.”
Nyanza’s debutants, Ng’iya Girls coach Oduor Nyadida, said they are also keen on lifting the title. Ng’iya overcame former national and East Africa champions Nyamira Girls to lift the Nyanza trophy.
In boys’ hockey, Nyanza champions Ringa Boyswill face last year’s finalists St. Anthony’s Kitale, St. Charles Lwanga and Nairobi’s Hospital Hill in Pool A, while defending champions Musingu School, Mpesa Academy, Matiliku, and Mnyenzeni Secondary from Coast will form Pool B.
