St. Annes Kiriari crowned Embu County hockey champions

St. Anne’s Kiriari Girls are the new Embu County Secondary School Term One games champions after narrowly defeating Kangaru Girls 1-0 in a tight final played at Kangaru School, Embu.

The Most Valuable Player award went to Brenda Mwende;also of Kiriari after she scored the all important goal in the first quarter to give Stephen Mbugua charges the win.

En rote to the final, Kiriari defeated last year’s finalists Kianjuki Secondary School 1-0 through a penalty while Kangaru saw off Kyeni girls 2-0 in the second semi finals.

Defending champions Gategi Girls were eliminated in the preliminary round.

Kiriari girls head coach Stephen Mbugua believes that hard work was the key factor to their success.

“I’m very excited with the girls because they showed a lot of effort since day one and their hard work has paid off, ‘ he bullishly charged adding that “he won’t make much changes in the team when they go for the Regional games set for next week in Meru”.

He said: “Our dreams are valid and as we head to Meru next week for the Regional Games we are not looking back because our target this year is to reach the nationals.”

His counterpart James Njau applauded his charges for making it to the regional level for the first time in a decade.

“Making it to the regional for the first time in a decade is no fluke. I’m happy with the girls determination and hard work although we lost in the finals against an experienced Kiriari,”he said.

Njau who started coaching the team this year says he will make his side stronger physically and give  as well as build courage in the team.

In the boys category, Nguviu Boys also pulled a surprise defeating defending champions Kangaru Boys 1-0 in the final.

Elsewhere, Kangaru School defeated St Paul’s Kevote 24-0 in the rugby 15s final and claimed the honours yet  again in 7s with a 14-0 victory against the same opponents.

Kiambere Complex Secondary School defeated St Paul’s Kevote 20-11 in the boys handball category while girls defending champions Kathari Secondary School narrowly retained their title defeating Ngiori Secondary School 11-10.

Kangaru School defended their basketball crown defeating Moi High School Mbiruri 24-18 with Kyeni Girls defeating Kangaru Girls 16-10 to win the girls category.

Collated Results

RUGBY 15’S

Kangaru School 24 – 00 St Paul’s Kevote

RUGBY SEVENS

Kangaru School 14-00 St Paul’s Kevote

HANDBALL BOYS

Kiambere Complex Secondary School 20-11 St Paul’s Kevote

HANDBALL GIRLS

Kathari Secondary School 11- 10 Ngiori Secondary School

HOCKEY BOYS

Nguviu High School 2-0 Kangaru School

HOCKEY GIRLS

St Anne’s Kiriari girls 1-0 Kangaru girls

BASKETBALL BOYS

Kangaru School 24-18 Moi High School Mbiruri

GIRLS

Kyeni girls 16-10 Kangaru girls