St Joseph's Girls eying three titles at national games in Eldoret

St Joseph's Girls School, Kitale hockey team players celebrate after beating Nakuru's Afraha School in the final of the Rift Valley Secondary School games at Hill School in Eldoret on April 8. [Peter Ochieng, Standard]

After shining at the Rift Valley Secondary Schools Games earlier this month, Kitale's St Joseph's Girls teams are ready to extend their dominance at the nationals set for Eldoret from Tuesday next week.

St Joseph's is preparing for a historic battle as they eye three national titles in hockey, handball and basketball.

The girls' hockey team will face St Charles Lwanga representing the Coast region, Hill Crest (Nairobi) and Nyanza's Nyamira Girls in Group A at the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) national games scheduled for April 25-29 in Eldoret.

The school's handball team on the other hand will play against Nyathuna and Kaya Tiwi from Central and Coast regions respectively.

St Joseph's Girls will be representing Rift Valley in hockey and handball after tough regional secondary school games also staged in Eldoret.

In Eldoret, coach John Lusaka's side took home the handball trophy after beating Nakuru's Murinduko 34-28.

They are upbeat about stamping authority with the main target being defending the East African title.

St Joseph's Girls also lifted the Rift Valley trophy after defeating Afraha of Nakuru County 8-0.

Captain, Praise Favour, said then that his side came into the Rift Valley finals with a winning spirit.

"We are going to put more effort ahead of the national Games. Our goal is to defend our national title," said Favour.

On Tuesday, Lusaka sent a warning shot to opponents, saying St Joseph's Girls - an East Africa handball giant was well prepared for the national games.

The school's handball team was second in handball in 2017 when it played second fiddle to St Cecilia. It has previously taken the third position in the event nationally and regionally.

"We know that any team that is coming to the national games is a strong challenger and our girls are well prepared to first top our group. We are sending an early warning to our opponents that it will not be easy," the hockey tactician and school games master told Standard Sport.

He continued: "We respect other regional giants coming to the nationals, but we don't fear them."

Lusaka said his side was lucky not to end the regional battles with serious injuries.

He said the teams were in good form, and ready for the campaign to lift the national trophies.

"We know the teams in our pool well, and we have faced them in previous matches. We promise Rift Valley that we will handle every team as they come because that has been our tradition. We value their strength but we will remain ruthless.

"In Basketball, we have competitive teams. They have demonstrated a competitive spirit, and we are equal to the task," he explained.

He thanked the school's management for supporting the teams from the zonal to the upcoming national competitions.

Apart from the ball games, St Joseph's Girls will have two of its athletes competing at the nationals. Purity Chenangat will be racing 400m while Esther Mukonyi is preparing to run 200m. Both girls placed second at the Rift Valley regional games.

"I appreciate the commitment of the school's administration led by Chief Principal Rosebella Orwaru. We are looking forward to victory and I am so far impressed with St Joseph's performance," he added.