It's battle of the saints as hockey giants clash in Rift Valley games
Hockey
By
Washington Onyango
| Apr 05, 2023
Oh, when the Saints, go marching in...
A saint is known to be a very virtuous, kind, or patient person acknowledged as holy.
Well, from today, all the saints in Rift Valley will leave behind their kindness as secondary schools begin to battle for the regional hockey, handball, basketball and rugby titles at Moi Girls Eldoret and Hill School.
Rift Valley is predominantly known to be an athletics powerhouse, currently boasting being home to world marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge as well as tens of world beaters.
However, in school games, the region is a powerhouse of not only athletics, but also football, volleyball, handball and now, hockey.
Currently, the region is home to national boys and girls hockey champions St Anthony's Boys Kitale and St Mary's Tachasis.
It is because of their status that St Anthony's coach Kevin Keegan is working day and night to ensure his team emerges top once again when the regional finals begin today.
Speaking to Standard Sports, Keegan who finished runner-up at the East Africa games last year, has his target set high.
"We want the East African title. That is our goal this year and the only way we can achieve it is by winning the regional final," he said.
"It is a fair pool for us but we have to be in top shape if we are to progress. We are not going to underrate any team because we it's a stage of champions. We just have to be the best."
The Trans Nzoia County champions will face off Tambach and Ndururumo from Laikipia in Group C while Jomo Kenyatta, Nakeel and Kimelok square it out in Group D.
Kapsabet Boys headline Group A that also has Emining from Baringo and Ortum from West Pokot as Kabianga, Boito and Arnesens square it out in Group B.
On the other hand, St Joseph's Girls Kitale are baying for St Mary's Tachasis blood in girls' hockey as they seek to return to the national games after a six-year hiatus.
After knocking out last year's East Africa runner-up Trans Nzoia Mixed Secondary School to qualify for the county games last month, St Joseph's Girls believe they have what it takes to win the regional gong.
"It has been a long wait, but now we are here. Definitely, we are underdogs compared with Tachasis who are the national champions but we come here as Trans Nzoia County champions. We are not afraid of anyone because I believe this is our year," said St Joseph's coach, John Lusaka.
St Joseph's will battle Singore and Kapkesosio in Group D while defending champions Tachasis from Nandi play Entarara and Taratar in Group C.
Mogotia, Maasai and Afraha are in Group A as hosts Hill School, Ndururumo and Londiani square it in Group B.
St Joseph's Kitale's assistant coach Linah Baraza said other teams should underrate them as they look to begin the games with a win against Kapkesosio today. Tachasis will play Tartar.
"We believe in the girls' ability. They have been sacrificing their time to work on their hockey basics and rectify some of the areas we saw that needed to be changed after the county games, No one should take us for granted," said the teacher, who formerly played for Lakers Hockey Club.
St Joseph's Girls were last crowned Trans Nzoia County champions in 2017. In the same year, they finished runner-up at the nationals and East Africa Games held in Gulu, Uganda behind St Cecilia Misikhu Girls.
St Joseph's, who dominated the Trans Nzoia County games, will also have their handball and basketball teams in Eldoret alongside athletics.
Esther Mukonyi Kituyi will represent the school in 100m and 200m sprints as Magdaline Chelangat battles for the 400m and 800m crowns. Linet Chebet will participate in javelin.
Another 'saints battle' will be in rugby 15s where St Anthony's Boys, St Patrick's and St Michael Kipsombe will face off Kapsabet Boys, Kabarnbet, Ngong Township, Nanyuki and Kilgoris.