St Anthony’s Kitale began their Brookside 2025 Kenya Secondary School Sports Association (KSSA) Term One national games with a commanding 3-1 victory over Nairobi Region champions Hospital Hill in an exhilarating Pool A clash at Shanzu Teachers College Grounds in Mombasa yesterday.

The Rift Valley giants, led by star player Duncan Meli, dominated the match from the outset, with two quick goals setting the tone for a dominant performance, despite a spirited second-half comeback by Hospital Hill.

From the start, St Anthony’s showed why they’re considered one of the region’s finest, taking control of the game early in the first quarter. The hockey powerhouse dominated the game, and within minutes their star player Duncan Meli made his mark by scoring two quick goals in succession. Their pace and intensity left Hospital Hill struggling to keep up, and the Nairobi champions found themselves on the back foot until the end of the first quarter.

However, Hospital Hill was not ready to back down from the fight. As the second quarter began, the Nairobi team composed themselves and settled into the game, making sure to avoid further damage before the end of the second quarter, which saw it end in a 0-0 draw.

Upon resumption from half-time, the third quarter seemed to go well for Hospital Hill as they made their way back into the match, and Zahir Suleiman delivered their first goal of the game.

Yet, their joy was short-lived as St Anthony’s responded almost immediately, leveling the playing field once more via Kelvin Onyango, and regained control of the match.

By the fourth quarter, St Anthony’s showed their class, maintaining a dominant performance to see the game out.

St Anthony’s head coach Kevin Lugaria was understandably thrilled with the victory.

“It was a brilliant display of hockey, and the boys followed the game plan to perfection. Winning the opening fixture is always crucial, and we’re excited to have made a strong start. Our goal is clear: we aim to reach the East Africa games and lift the cup. But we know it won’t be easy, so we’re taking it one game at a time,” stated Lugaria.

On the other side, Hospital Hill’s coach, Adam Obura, acknowledged the challenge his team faced. “I must congratulate my players; they played well despite the nerves of their first national competition. It took them a while to settle, but once they did, they played with heart. I’m confident that we’ll win our upcoming matches, and we’re focused on reaching the semi-finals first, then lifting the trophy,” said an optimistic Obura.

Meanwhile, in other matches, Nyanza representatives Ringa played to a goalless draw against St Charles Lwanga from the Coastal region.

The match, though devoid of goals, brought out the competitive nature of the tournament.