St. Joseph’s Girls Kitale head coach Francis Ojilo has revealed how fasting and prayer have become a key part of the Kenyan champions’ push for their maiden Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) football title in Morogoro, Tanzania.The Trans Nzoia County side have made prayer a daily part of their campaign, with players gathering in small circles immediately after matches to seek God’s guidance, regardless of whether they have won, drawn or lost.##NAJAVA_MECA_9894432##At the bench, the players, technical team and teaching staff also come together for a word of prayer before breaking away for interviews and preparations for the next assignment.The practice has been particularly visible during St. Joseph’s return to the regional stage after finally ending their long wait for a first ever Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) national girls' football title.Ojilo says some players have also chosen to fast for an entire day or limit themselves to one meal as they seek spiritual strength and guidance during the tournament.“We always believe that God comes first, and we believe strongly in prayer because without prayer, you cannot go far,” the coach told Mozzart Sport.“Our school is Catholic, so prayer is part of what we do. At times, the players decide to fast for a day because they want to connect with God and ask for guidance. They tell God, ‘You have given us this talent, now help us use it well, give us victory and allow the talent you have given us to be seen.’ That is why after every match you see us coming together to pray.”FEASSSA: Green Commandos star reveals how indiscipline nearly ended his football careerChief Principal Dr Rosebella Khatenje Munzala has also been part of the post-match prayers, joining the players and technical bench before the team turns its attention to the next fixture.The practice reflects the wider identity of the institution, which traces its roots to the Catholic education ministry in Kitale dating back to the 1950s under the Roman Catholic Church.St. Joseph’s Girls was established as a separate institution in 1993 after the former mixed St. Joseph’s Secondary School was split into boys' and girls' schools.The girls' section was subsequently developed into a national school, with discipline, academic excellence and talent development remaining among its core values.Those values have also been reflected in sport, with the school building a strong reputation across several disciplines, including hockey, athletics, handball, rugby 15s, lacrosse and basketball, while football has now provided the latest breakthrough.FEASSSA 2026: Ng’iya Girls’ goal machine opens up on how hockey talent earned her scholarshipThe national football title finally gave the school its long-awaited ticket to the East African stage, where they are now hoping to go one step further and claim a first regional crown.Their campaign in Morogoro, however, did not begin as planned.The Kenyan champions opened with two draws, results that started to affect the mood in camp as the players struggled to turn their chances into goals.The experienced coach and teacher says managing the players' emotions became just as important as working on their tactical weaknesses.“These are girls, and the most important thing is to manage their emotions. After the first two matches ended in draws, they were not emotionally stable, so I had to work on their mental strength,” he said.“I reminded them that this is the beginning of the journey and there is no need to panic or worry. We just have to prepare for the next game. That is what I have been doing throughout, making sure the players remain stable, do not panic and approach every match as if it is a final.”FEASSSA: Yala youngster using football to open doors for forgotten talents back at homeThe change was evident in their third outing when St. Joseph’s finally found their scoring boots, thrashing Tanzania's Kilombero Secondary School 5-0 at Jamhuri Stadium.Conny Ayieko scored twice, while Miriam Silali, Fleviah Khatenje and Beryl Akumu also found the net as the Kenyan champions turned their dominance into a convincing victory.The result lifted them to five points from three matches and strengthened their chances of reaching the semi-finals, with the final group matches set to determine who progresses.Ojilo believes the breakthrough came after his technical team worked on composure in the final third, an area that had frustrated them during the opening two matches.“We had registered two draws, so the idea was to make sure the players were more composed in the final third and create more scoring opportunities. I am happy they implemented what we worked on, and we scored a lot of goals,” he said.FEASSSA: Bukedea boss explains why Ugandan schools continue to dominate East AfricaWith the knockout stage now within reach, St. Joseph’s are carrying both the confidence of national champions and the belief that their preparation extends beyond the training ground.The players may be working on their finishing, movement and tactical discipline on the pitch, but once the final whistle goes, they return to the same circle where the campaign begins again, this time with prayer, fasting and a belief that their first regional title could be within reach.