St Anthony’s in bright start to hockey campaign

What you need to know:

  • Upper Hill lose football opener to Uganda’s Kibuli.

IN GULU, UGANDA

National boys’ hockey champions St Anthony’s Kitale started their title campaign with a 5-0 win over Uganda’s St Mary’s Kisubi on the first day of action at the Brookside East Africa Secondary School Games on Saturday.

St Anthony’s, who have won the regional crown five times, secured the emphatic win thanks to a brace from Oquack Kabiur, with team mates Newton Simiyu, Oscar Kibet and Brian Ongeche also on target.

St Anthony’s were 2-0 up by halftime, silencing the home supporters with impressive displays and goals. Simiyu opened the scoring for St Anthony’s in the 16th minute, bundling home a field goal.

Four minutes later, Kabiur opened his account as he finished off Simiyu’s short corner.

Kisubi rarely threatened despite the huge support and they were put the sword as the Kenyans added three more goals after the break to secure the three points.

UPPER, KISUMU DRAW

St Anthony’s coach Kelvin Lugalia is targeting more of the same performance in the coming matches.

“We were able to shut out their wing players and that weakened their attack, allowing us control of the match,” Lugalia said.

The result took St Anthony’s to the top of the pool after Kenya’s other teams - Kisumu Day and Upper Hill - settled for a 0-0 draw.

The girls’ matches also witnessed draws after former winners St Cecilia Misikhu battled to a 0-0 draw with compatriots St Joseph’s Kitale. Girls’ champions Sinyolo play Misikhu Sunday morning.

In boys’ football, the 2002 winners St Anthony’s Boys Kitale marked their return to these games with a 1-0 win a over Lycee du Kigali.

James Kibande scored the winning goal late in the second half to give the Peter Mayoyo-led side a perfect start on their return.

“It was a tough encounter with less chances and that one moment of magic won it for us in the end and we will build on the win,” Mayoyo said.

Kenyan champions Upper Hill went down 3-2 to homeside Kibuli Secondary School, with Allan Okello bagging a hat-trick. Upper Hill replied through Jeremy Onyango and Ramadhan Abdalla. Kenya’s third side Kakamega High School plays Jinja Secondary School in their opening encounter ton Sunday.

In girls’ football, four time winners Wiyeta Girls settled for a 2-2 draw with G.S. Kabusunzu of Rwanda, with Monica Etot hitting a brace to rescue the Kenyan side from defeat.

FIXTURES

Hockey Girls

Sinyolo (KE) Vs St Cecilia (KE)

Hockey Boys

St Anthony( KE) Vs Upper Hill( KE)

Football Boys

Upper Hill (KE) Vs Alliance( TZ)

ST Anthony ( KE) Vs St Mary’s Kitende( UG)

Jinja S. S  (UG) Vs Kakamega High( KE)