After reclaiming the Nairobi Region netball title, St Dorcas Educational Centre are now eying a memorable return to the national stage.
The city champions will be out to improve on their 2023 sixth-place finish at this year’s Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National Term Two games that begin on Tuesday in Kakamega.
St Dorcas beat Raila Educational Centre 34-32 in the final to recapture the regional title they lost to Mbagathi Girls Secondary School last year.
They will be looking to come out of the shadows of Nyanza, Western and Coast teams that have dominated the games for years.
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St Dorcas coach Laban Murangiri said they are looking forward to an improved performance this time out.
“The girls have been working hard in readiness for this year’s competition and their efforts are bearing fruit. Our first goal was to qualify for the national games and we achieved that, so we are focusing on our next objective which is to finish in the top three in Kakamega,” Murangiri said.
Murangiri said Nairobi teams have for decades lagged behind Nyanza, Coast and Western schools due to lack of grassroots programs that are now taking shape in the city.
“I believe the girls will perform better this time because unlike previous years, they have now been exposed to many programs, tournaments and mentorship to help them develop skills as well as their mental strength.”
“We never had these initiatives in Nairobi before, which gave our opponents from other regions, who have set their standards high, an upper hand,” he added.
After relinquishing their regional crown last year, St Dorcas embarked on preparations for the 2025 contest.
“We didn’t not stop after failing to make it to the nationals last year, but instead continued to work hard, rectifying our mistakes and focusing on the next challenge. My girls have been very dedicated and I hope that their efforts will not be in vain.”
They are in a tough Group B that also has reigning champions Oyugi Ogango, St Monica Bukokholo from Western, who return to the national stage after a year in the cold and Central’s Kinale Girls.
Group A has former national champions Kaya Tiwi from Coast, Rift Valley’s St Joseph’s Girls High School Kitale, Kajiampau from Eastern and North Eastern representatives.
“We are the underdogs in our pool, but the girls are motivated and ready to play,” Murangiri said.
St Dorcas will rely on the brilliance of goal shooter Evangeline Karimi and goal attacker Victoria Gakii to score goals, while goalkeeper Stephy Adhiambo and goal defender Elizabeth Achieng will be out to ensure they stop their opponents from scoring.
Utility player Risper Gatwiri will take up the centre role with her main objective being to be an effective link between offense and defence.