Secrets behind Saint Joseph's Girls sudden rise in sports

St Joseph Girls Kitale Hockey team in practice at their grounds a head of the National Secondary School Games scheduled on Tuesday April 25, 2023 in Eldoret. [Peter Ochieng, Standard]

When St Joseph's Girls Kitale handball squad lost to Moi Girls Kamusinga at the National Secondary School games finals last year, school principal Rosebella Orwaru went back to the drawing board.

Orwaru's girls are now returning to the nationals with handball, basketball and hockey after thrashing rivals at the Rift Valley secondary school games last month.

She told Standard Sport in an interview that her squads, which also comprise an athletics team, are looking forward to winning the national games in Eldoret because the entire Rift Valley region was looking up to them to represent the region.

"We trust in our girls and we believe they will lift the trophy because of the effort we have put in them. Our target is the East Africa Games. We are going for nothing short of a win," the principal said ahead of the national games set to electrify Eldoret from Tuesday to Saturday.

She says she was delighted about the performance of her girls in hockey, basketball and handball as well as athletics.

Orwaru is even more proud that they are representing Rift Valley in the three ball games and athletics.

"We congratulate our girls and the coaches for putting in a spirited fight to make sure the three teams are winning.

"It has not been easy. We have been building the teams for years, and many times we have been losing at the county level," she explains.

The principal shares the secrets behind her school sending three teams and athletes to the term one national games in Eldoret - the same venue where the Rift Valley secondary school games were staged earlier this month.

A residential camp in the school

Orwaru says her girls have been in a residential camp at the school since December and they have had rigorous training and physical fitness sessions.

She says St Joseph's Girls squads were taken to the gym and that there has been a strong commitment from the coaches, teachers and school administration.

Talent scouting

She says the school had a policy of talent scouting, where sports talents who had scored 250 marks and above in KCPE were enrolled and prepared for sports and academics.

A flawless balance between sports and academics

Initially, at St Joseph's Girls, Orwaru says, games were seen as a waste of time but with the entry of a new games master (John Lusaka), the rest of the staff were convinced that a balance between sports and academics was possible.

"We are managing both sports and academics because we are showing the girls the value of sports. Books alone will take them far but they also need sports to take them further.

We are encouraging players that at some age, they may not participate in these games, but they will have gained skills that will help them in their respective careers," says Orwaru.

An indispensable cheering squad led by the principal

When they were competing at the regionals, the school assembled a vibrant cheering squad from the teachers and students, which motivated the squad's brilliant shows in Eldoret (at the regionals).

"When the girls see me cheering on the sidelines, they play like they are mad. Missing in the cheering will make them feel that their mother has abandoned them," Orwaru says.

She goes ahead to say: "I will be there from day one, to advise the girls and to give them the moral support they dearly require to succeed. When I close my eyes for prayer before the girls start playing, they will definitely win that match."

Volunteer coaches

According to Orwaru, their stellar shows at the county and regional levels attracted volunteer coaches who embarked on preparing the teams for the national games.

"Success in sports is always sweet. After our recent breakthrough, coaches who watched us play at the regional level came out and helped us enhance the teams' strength in preparation for the national games," she says.

She adds: "In hockey, for instance, there are coaches who specialize only in goalkeeping. They come in and ensure our goalkeepers are well-trained ahead of the competitions.

"Apart from the volunteers, we have our regular coaches and by the time of leaving for Eldoret, our technical benches have been expanded and we are getting candid advice for the girls. There are those who take charge of morning runs and others take them through physical fitness."

Financial support and rewards

Before departure to championships, the St Joseph's Girls manager hosts dinners for her girls.

She says at the dinners, coaches and teachers motivate the girls to go for the wins and to play as a team.

"We have made sure that our teams have good jerseys and are well motivated. Our coaches are also supported to achieve sports targets. We at times reward the teams for their good performance," she says.