St Anthony's square it out with champions Musingu in hockey final

St Charles' Philip Mwendwa and Victor Karanja of Musingu during the ongoing Brookside national Term One games at Shanzu Teachers Training College. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

There will be no love lost when former national champions St Anthony's Boys High School Kitale and holders Musingu High School face off in the boys' hockey final of this year's Brookside Secondary School's national Term One games that end today in Mombasa.

While Musingu from Western will be out to retain their title and extend their reign to three years in a row, Rift Valley's St Anthony's on the other hand, will be seeking to reclaim the title.

St Anthony's will also be out to avenge their losses to Musingu who dethroned them in 2023 and successfully defended the trophy last year.

In the semi-finals, Musingu thrashed homeboys St Charles Lwanga, whereas St Anthony's dismissed Mpesa Foundation Academy 3-1 to set a finals date. The two sides have clashed in the past two national finals, with Musingu carrying the day. In 2023, Musingu edged St Anthony's 1-0 in the Eldoret final, last year they won 3-2 in Machakos.

St Anthony's coach Kelvin Lugalia said that they will fight in the game to the whistle because it will be a tough match.

"It will be a very tough match and we just have to keep fighting to the end. They are a very good side but we also prepared well and so we will give our best," Lugalia said.

His Musingu equal, Benson Wabuyabo noted that they don't expect to have it easy against St Anthony's.

"We have played them in the past two national finals and it has not been easy though we won on both occasions. We are the defending champions and our aim is to retain our title and so we will fight tooth and nail to achieve our goal," Wabuyabo said.

It will be a battle of the national and East Africa champions when Tigoi Girls take on St Joseph's Girls High School Kitale in the girls final. National champions Tigoi secured will face an acid test against reigning East Africa queens who are determined to bag their maiden national gong.

In the semis, Tigoi edged Mwiki Secondary School 1-0 while St Joseph's beat debutants Ng'iya Girls 2-0. St Charles Lwanga will play Mpesa Academy while Ng'iya will take on Mwiki in the third-place play-offs.