East Africa Secondary Schools: St Anthony’s and Trans Nzoia crowned hocky champs

St Anthony's John Benahiah (white) with Sir Samuel UG Kizito Rwotber at Nyakarambi. [Elizabeth Mburugu, Standard]

Kenya extended their regional hockey dominance as St Anthony’s Kitale and Trans Nzoia Mixed were crowned the 2018 Brookside East Africa Secondary Schools boys and girls champions.

Musingu and Tigoi took silver while Kakungulu Memorial, who staged their best performance since the inception of the games took both the girls and boys bronze medal.

The Kenyan boys and girls withstood stiff competition from Uganda’s Kakungulu Memorial to bag gold and silver in the boys and girls contest forcing the Ugandan’s who were looking to win the country a maiden hockey trophy to settle for bronze.

With the victory St Anthony’s affirmed their place as the most successful hockey boys team in the region having bagged their sixth regional gong.

St Anthony’s coach Kelvin Lugalia was over the moon saying he had accomplished his main objective. “No words can describe this feeling, for many years I tried to complete a double, but always fell short either at the national games or in East Africa. Credit goes to the boys who worked very hard and ensured that we won both the national and East Africa titles because it is not an easy feat,” Lugalia said.

St Anthony’s reclaimed the title they had last won in 2015 games held in Huye, Rwanda after topping the table with 13 points from five matches. Musingu took silver after winning four of their round robin matches having lost their opener to St Anthony’s.

Kakungulu Memorial from Uganda took bronze as the jinx of fourth place finish that has haunted Upper Hill since Eldoret 2016 had followed them to Musanze. They finished fourth with four points from a win, a draw and three losses. They also finished fourth last year in Gulu, Uganda.

In the girls contest, Trans Nzoia Mixed crowned their successful year with the girls’ trophy adding it to the national they had won in Embu. Having finished second in their 2015 debut, Trans Nzoia returned to the regional scene stronger to win the title on an unbeaten run. They garnered 13 points from four wins and a draw, two more than national finalists Tigoi who were once again to play second fiddle. Kakangulu finished third with 10 points crashing Kenya’s hopes of a 1-2-3 finish. Former East Africa champions Kerugoya finished fourth. [By Elizabeth Mburugu]