Nairobi champions Mwiki yearn to secure East Africa games ticket

For the past two years, Mwiki Secondary School girls' hockey team has embraced failure, turning it into a learning tool and also fuel to drive them to success.

Their positive attitude, desire to learn and never-say-die spirit finally paid off when they beat Hillcrest 2-1 in a penalty shootout to reclaim the Nairobi Region Secondary Schools girls' hockey title.

With that came the ticket to this year's Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National Term One games set for April 7 to 12 at the Shanzu Teachers College and Shimo La Tewa High School, in Mombasa.

Mwiki will be making their second appearance at the national games having made their debut in 2022. They relinquished their trophy in 2023 after losing 2-0 to Hillcrest in the regional final.

They later suffered another heartbreak in 2024 at the hands of Pangani Girls, who denied them a chance to return to the nationals after winning by a solitary goal in a penalty shootout after the game had ended in a barren draw.

Despite losing in two straight finals, Mwiki did not give up and instead, intensified their training sessions and also put measures like having the team play in the Women's National Super League to sharpen their skills.

Their efforts finally paid off as they rallied from two goals down to secure a 3-3 draw leading to a penalty shootout that they won 2-1 against Hillcrest.

Mwiki coach Peter Mwathe, who started hockey at the school in 2018 alongside coach Wesley Osinde, said their main objective this year is to secure a ticket to the East Africa games. "We have been working very hard, the girls are determined to improve on their 2022 performance because our gaim is to qualify for the East Africa games," Mwathe said. He added that his players, who were new to higher levels of competition in 2022, have gained exposure through the league and are now more experienced.

"We didn't perform very well back then because the players were not well exposed, but I believe we are now strong competitors. The exposure gained in the league will help us put up a good fight against our opponents."

Mwiki are in Group A alongside reigning East Africa champions St Joseph's Kitale from Rift Valley, AIC Nyayo from Eastern and home girls St Charles Lwanga. In the pool, only Mwiki were not at the nationals last year.

In Mombasa, Mwiki will bank on the services of regional MVP Joan Muria, who will be leading the attack which also has Melphine Nyongesa, Esther Wanjiru and Margaret Wangui.

Gloria Okenyuri, Purity Moraa and Margaret Nyawira will marshal the midfield, while Susan Wanjiru, Enel Akinyi, Agnes Wamaitha and Nancy Nyambura will be in defence to ensure that goalkeeper Bushra Indoso does not face any serious threat from the opponents.