Coast Region Secondary Schools handball champions Moi Forces Girls Academy are banking on home advantage to excel at this year’s National Term One Games set for April 7 to 12 at Shanzu Teachers College and Shimo La Tewa High School, Mombasa.  

Moi Forces who made their national debut last year return to the games with the aim of improving on their seventh-place finish and securing a ticket to East Africa games.

Head coach Samuel Njagi said that his charges have come of age because last year they were inexperienced and the weather conditions in Machakos didn’t also favour them.

“My players struggled last year because they were new to that level of competition. The weather was not also favourable because it was different from what they were used to and so they were greatly affected,” Njagi said.

He exuded confidence saying that in addition to invaluable lessons they took home from last year’s outing, they will capitalise on home advantage and a huge fan base to achieve their objectives.

“I think the conditions are in our favour because we will be playing at home in temperatures we are used to and that gives us an edge over our opponents. We also have a great technical bench and ambitious young players who are determined to succeed.”

Moi Forces are in Group B alongside 2023 champions St Joseph’s Girls High School Kitale from Rift Valley who are returning to the games after missing last year’s event.

Newbies Kadika Girls Secondary School from Nyanza and Central region’s Thika Girls Karibaribi who will also be out for a memorable national debut.

“Ours is the group of death but I believe we have what it takes to advance to the knockouts. This is because apart from the hard work we have put in preparing for the games, we are also the only side that returns from last year’s games in our pool,” Njagi said.  

Team captain Zebida Atieno believes that her experience and leadership skills will anchor her side to the East Africa games that the country will host in August.