Former East Africa hockey silver medalists St. Joseph’s Girls Kitale hope to replicate their 2017 performance at next week's Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association national Term One games.
Kitale last featured in the national championships six years ago and will be among the top dogs at Hill School, Eldoret.
They will count on home advantage to deliver the goods as they look to have another bite on the cherry all the way to the East African championships.
Coach John Lusaka said they are heading to the national championships, not as participants but as serious contenders.
“We have to prove we are worthy champions,” said Lusaka.
The Trans Nzoia county school booked their slot at the national championships after edging Afraha Girls from Nakuru 8-0 during the Rift Valley regional event.
Daisy Kerubo bagged a hattrick with Hanzel Cherono and Tracy Korir scoring a brace each as Joyful Chemutai added another in that rout.
They had, along the way, eliminated national champions Tachasis Girls in the semifinals as well as beating the then regional champions Kitale Mixed in the Trans Nzoia county championships.
“We are putting all our effots together in readiness for the national games. We may have a few challenges but that will not kill our spirit,” added Lusaka.
St. Joseph's lead Pool 'A' alongside Nairobi’s HillCrest, St Charles Lwanga of Coast and Nyamira from Nyanza in what is believed to be the 'pool of death'.
Afraha, who were second-place finishers at the Rifta Valley games, joins the fray after North Eastern failed to produce a competitor. They are in Pool 'B' alongside Tigoi from Western and Loreto from Central.
Debutants St Patrick’s Iten are in Pool 'A' of the rugby 15s competition alongside Mang’u High School from Central, Ofafa Jericho (Nairobi) and All Saints from Eastern.
Rift Valley silver meadlists St Anthony’s Kitale lead Pool 'B' aongside Kwale from Coast, Kisii of Nyanza and Western’s Butula.
KSSSA National pools
Hockey girls.
Pool 'A'
St Joseph's Kitale (Rift Valley)
St Charles Lwanga (Coast)
Hill Crest (Nairobi)
Nyamira (Nyanza)
Pool 'B'
Afraha (Rift Valley)
Tigoi (Western)
Loreto (Central)
Rugby 15s
Pool 'A'
St Patrick's Iten (Rift Valley)
Mang;u (Central)
Ofafa Jericho (Nairobi)
All Saints (Eastern)
Pool 'B'
St Anthony's Kitale
Kwale (Coast)
Kisii (Nyanza)
Butula (Western)
