The Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) has named the final men’s and women’s squads that will represent the country at the inaugural Hockey 5s Youth Africa Cup (YAC) 2026, with national secondary school champions and Most Valuable Players dominating the selections ahead of the continental showpiece in Nairobi.
The tournament, scheduled for Thursday, 6 to Saturday, 8 August at the Sikh Union Nairobi Dashmesh Hockey Stadium, will bring together under-18 teams from Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda in both the men’s and women’s competitions.
It will also serve as the African qualifier for the inaugural FIH Youth Hockey 5s World Cup, set for December 2026. Leading the Kenyan boys’ team is Kelvin Onyango of St. Anthony’s Boys Kitale, who has been entrusted with the captain’s armband after an outstanding school hockey season.
Onyango arrives at the tournament as one of Kenya’s most decorated young players, having guided St. Anthony’s to the 2026 Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) national title and having previously won the national MVP twice in 2024 and 2025. Joining him is Reagan Meshack of Friends School Kamusinga, the 2026 KSSSA Nationals MVP, underlining the quality assembled in the national squad.
St. Anthony’s Boys, the reigning national champions, contribute three players to the team, with Peter Wachira and Kerry Lusweti joining captain Onyango. Former champions Musingu School are represented by Daniel Omondi and Godfrey Fedha, while other schools with players in the squad include St. Luke’s Kimilili, Hospital Hill School, Nairobi School and St. Charles Lwanga.
The girls’ squad is captained by Shanel Hilda of St. Joseph’s Girls Kitale, one of four players selected from the school. She is joined by Audrey Greener, Valary Joy and Ruth Atieno, reflecting the school’s growing influence in girls’ hockey.Ng’iya Girls contributes Mitchell Oguk and Virginia Moraa, while the rest of the squad features wonderkid Laura Kadogo from Impala Academy, Mitchell Khatikoli from Sheywe Secondary School, Marina McRae from Hillcrest International School and Claire Ndegwa from Peponi School Northlands.KSSSA: Kwanthanze bounce back as Kesogon and Mwitoti maintain perfect run in volleyballVeteran coach Kevin Lugalia will lead the boys’ team, with Barbara Simiyu taking charge of the girls.Griffin Okombe has been appointed the overall head coach, supported by team managers Julius Masero and Glennis Namasake, strength and conditioning coach Joseph Osino, physiotherapists Michael Maitha and Rebecca Kaumba, team doctor Carole Akinyi and safeguarding officer Valery Mbehero.
Lugalia is among Kenya’s most accomplished school hockey coaches. The St. Anthony’s Boys tactician has built one of the country’s most successful school hockey programmes, winning multiple KSSSA national and FEASSSA titles while developing players who have progressed to national teams. His commitment to combining sporting excellence with academic achievement has earned him widespread recognition within Kenyan hockey.
Kenya will begin its campaign on Thursday with the girls taking on Uganda in the tournament opener before facing South Africa later in the day. The boys will open their challenge against South Africa before meeting Nigeria in their second fixture. Squads:Boys: Kelvin Onyango (Captain), Reagan Meshack, Caleb Korir, Peter Wachira, Daniel Omondi, Kerry Lusweti, Godfrey Fedha, Peter Awot, Okoth Carl Jeremy and Jack Owino.Standby: Derrick Livoi, Ricardo Wisdom.Girls: Shanel Hilda (Captain), Audrey Greener, Laura Kadogo, Mitchell Oguk, Mitchell Khatikoli, Virginia Moraa, Valary Joy, Marina McRae, Claire Ndegwa and Ruth Atieno.Standby: Ziana Achieng, Gloria Okenyuri.Technical Bench: Overall Head Coach: Griffin Okombe, Boys’ Coach: Kevin Lugalia, Girls’ Coach: Barbara Simiyu, Boys’ Team Manager: Julius Masero, Girls’ Team Manager: Glennis Namasake, Strength & Conditioning Coach: Joseph Osino, Boys’ Physiotherapist: Michael Maitha, Girls’ Physiotherapist: Rebecca Kaumba, Team Doctor: Carole Akinyi, Safeguarding Officer: Valery Mbehero.