Rookies Matiliku eye memorable national hockey debut

Fresh from winning their maiden Eastern Region hockey title, Matiliku Secondary School are now ready to rattle the big boys at the National Term One games

They are in Group B alongside reigning national and East Africa champions Musingu High School from Western, homeboys Mnyenzeni Secondary School and Central’s Mpesa Foundation Academy.

Matiliku, who made history as the first boys’ hockey team  from Makueni County to qualify for the nationals, have warned opponents that they will be no pushovers.

Team coach Kelvin Mutisya said they will be at the national games to compete and their aim is to secure a ticket to the East Africa games.

Mutisya, who is also the school’s bursar, said it has been a journey full of ups and downs that required a lot of patience. It would take him five years to build a team that could compete at higher levels.

“When I joined the school, there was hockey but they were contented playing at lower levels such as sub-county and county games only. However, I had to change their mindsets and make them believe that they were good enough,” Mutisya added.

The players had a major shift last year when some of them were selected to go for under-18 national team trials.

“That call-up was a game-changer. It made them believe that if they could be selected for the national team, then they were good enough to compete even at the nationals,” Mutisya added.

They returned stronger this year to win their maiden Eastern region title. They did it in style beating national games regulars Meru School 3-0 at the group stage before eliminating former regional champions St Francis Katangi 1-0 in a penalty shootout.