Can St Anthony Kitale end their title drought at KSSSA hockey nationals?

St Anthony's Captain Linton Nayombe and Peter Wachira of Musingu Boys during Kenya Secondary Schools sports Association Hockey match Term One games in Machakos County. April 13, 2024. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Will the gods of hockey finally smile at St Anthony's Boys High School Kitale and end their two years of pain?

The former national and East Africa champions as well as their diehard fans will be seeking answers to this question at this year's Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National Term One games slated for April 7-12 at the Shanzu Teachers College and Shimo la Tewa High School, Mombasa.

St Anthony's christened Les Titans, who have suffered at the hands of current champions Musingu Boys High School, will be out to recapture the national trophy that has eluded them for the past two years.

They last won the title in 2022 when the games resumed after a two-year break due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Les Titans relinquished their crown to Musingu in 2023 after losing by a solitary goal in the final.

Last year they came close to salvaging their pride but fell short once again losing 2-3 in the final. The eight-time national winners are hoping to get it right this time around and add a ninth title.

St Anthony's coach Kelvin Lugalia said they have been at the nationals before and he knows what to expect though he is fielding a team that is new to higher levels of competition.

"We have been there before and know the tough task ahead of us, but we are determined to go all the way and reclaim out title. Most of my players are new to this competition, but I believe they will go out there and do their best," Lugalia said.

He added that being in Group A, which has hosts and last year's national and East Africa bronze and silver medallists St Charles Lwanga, Nairobi and Nyanza champions Hospital Hill and Our Lady of Mercy Ringa Boys, calls for more effort.

"We are in a very tough pool but our strategy is to play one match at a time. We know that if we execute our plan very well and just focus on a task at hand, we will eventually achieve our objective which is to recapture the title."

If they advance to the semis, they will meet with the top two sides from Group B which has holders Musingu and debutants Matiliku Secondary School from Eastern, Mnyenzeni from Coast and Mpesa Foundation Academy from Central.

Les Titans, who have also enjoyed success at the Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA), are also eying the East Africa regional gong.

The seven-time East Africa champions are looking to reclaim the title they last won in 2018.