The Elgon Cup and League finals Preview.

Most of the season’s fixtures might have been done by last weekend but there are a handful of matches to look forward to this weekend. As we all know the national fifteens teams will be doing duty in neighboring Uganda in the first leg of the Elgon Cup, we’ll get to that shortly. Back home the University and Nationwide league finals will be played at the RFUEA on Saturday, while fans in Nakuru will get to see their beloved Wanyore take on Nondies and probably win this year’s title, after the earlier won the appeal to play this match. The fixtures:

University League Finals:

Egerton University vs Multimedia University

Nation Wide League Finals:

Blak Blad vs Mombasa RFC

E.S.S

Nakuru II vs Nondies II

Kenya Cup:

Nakuru vs Nondies

Elgon Cup 1^st Leg:

Kenya vs Uganda (Ladies)

Kenya vs Uganda (Men) 

Egerton and Multimedia will be doing battle for the University league title after they saw off the rest of the pile to make it to this final. Interestingly Multimedia finished the league at 7^th just enough to earn them a spot in the Quarters, Egerton on the other hand were first. Multimedia saw off second placed Kimathi in the Quarter then Blak blad II in the semi final to get here. Egerton beat Kabarak and Catholic university in that order to make it to Saturday’s final. The last time these two met in the league sometime in January this year, Egerton were 24-10 winners. That score and the fact that Egerton finished top of a pile that included Multimedia makes the students from Njoro firm favorites. This however is a final and form books tend to get torn apart in such matches, the students from neighboring Rongai will be out to revenge the afore mentioned result just like they have done since getting to the Quarter finals and will definitely fancy their chances of winning the title.   

In the Nationwide, two teams from the eastern conference will face off in the final, the two being Blak Blad and Mombasa RFC. Blak blad finished top of the East side with Mombasa coming in a close third 9 points behind the leaders. These two have successfully saw off the West side opposition to reach the Saturday date. Vijana wa Mombasani saw off Masinde Muliro in the Quarters then saw off USIU (which was also in the East side) in a two legged semi final to be at the final, Blak blad on the other hand beat Bungoma and Eldoret. Blak Blad go into this one as the favorites, the Ruiru based students are unbeaten this far, their closest shave coming in the first leg semi when they won by a single point at Eldoret, 13-12 was the score by the way. Blak Blad saw off Mombasa 20-3 in a league fixture earlier in the year and will be looking to repeat that feat and be crowned the first Nationwide league champions.

In the ESS Nondies II and Nakuru II will be meeting in a mid table clash at the NAC, Nondies II are 5^th on 42 points while Nakuru II are 6^th on 40 points. Last time they met…Nakuru II were narrow 9-6 winners at the Jamuhuri grounds.

Two teams that recently acquired new prefixes will be facing each other at the NAC, The Menengai oil Nakuru RFC and the Total Kenya. That is where the similarities between the two end, as these two have had contrasting fortunes this season. Twenty points separate the two going into this game, while the Wanyore have been enjoying the season of their lives and will be gunning for their maiden Kenya Cup title, us guys of Nondies have been on and off this season and are perched in mid table and will be looking to finish 6^th. It should be noted however that this is an improvement from the Nondies as they finished 7^th last season in the 8 team league. Both sides come into this game off wins (That’s another similarity right? hehe) Nakuru having taken sweet revenge against Strathmore at home while Nondies saw off Kisumu at the Jamuhuri grounds. Nakuru will be looking to finish this season as the only unbeaten side at home after KCB relinquished that title after the defeat to Quins, while Nondies will be gunning to slay this record. Last time these two met at the Jamuhuri grounds, Nakuru were 14-5 winners. Both sides have players on national duty (another similarity) with Nondies missing Ronnie Mwenesi and Calvins Biko, with Nakuru missing the services of Sammy Warui and Duncan Mwangi.

To the mathematics, with both sides having got back the two points that they were initially docked, Nondies are now on 39 points level with 6^th placed Impala. Nakuru are on 59 points 3 behind the Lunch bar Quins, If Nakuru win this one, they will be crowned champions or be champions in waiting pending any other appeals. If Nondies win or lose with a bonus they will finish 6^th. Finally on the Kenya Cup, let’s hope that things will run a lot more smoothly next season..

Back in 2008.

Let’s move to Uganda where the reigning C.A.R champions and five time Elgon Cup winners (2007-2011) Kenya will be playing the first leg of the Elgon Cup against Uganda as they look to secure the sixth title in a row. The Ladies team who have won the title 3 times in a row (2009-2011) and will be gunning for the fourth title, both squads were named on Wednesday and have since arrived in Kampala ready for duty. The men left on Wednesday Night while the warembo left last night, why they travel separately you ask..ndio concentration ikue at maximum hehe, here are the squads :

Ladies first:

1. Aberdeen Shikoyi

2. Adelaide Nasambu

3. Camilyne Awuor

4. Celestine Masinde

5. Damima Duffield

6. Doreen Remour

7. Everlyne Odero

8.Florence Awuor

9. Irene Awino

10.Janet Awuor

11. Janet Midecha

12. Keziah Achieng'

13. Linda Nandwa

14.Mary Musieka

15. Mary Otieno

16. Millicent Opala

17. Philadelphia Olando

18. Rachel Adhiambo

19. Robina Wambui

20. Shaniz Gaikumi

21. Stacy Awuor

22. Winnie Nyama  

Head Coach: Steve Sewe Team Manager Yvonne Makwali Physio Ben Mahinda

The Men :

1. Joel Ng'ang'a (Quins, Captain)
2. Sammy Warui (Nakuru)
3. Dennis Karani ( Quins)
4. Wilson K'Opondo (Quins)
5. Ronnie Mwenesi (Nondies)
6. Duncan Ekasi (Impala)
7.Brian Nyikuli (Quins)
8.Lawrence Buyachi (Impala)
9.Eden Agero (Quins)
10. Kenny Andola (Strathmore)
11. Kelvin Omiyo (Homeboyz)
12. Maurice Mbai (Strathmore)
13. Nick Barasa (Quins)
14. Vincent Mose (Impala)
15. Chris Oduor (Quins)
16. Curtis Lilako (KCB)
17. Duncan Mwangi (Nakuru)
18. Daniel Sikuta (Mwamba)
19. Leslie Libasia (Quins)
20.Steve Sakwa (Homeboyz)
21. Matthew Musita (KCB)
22. Calvins Biko (Nondies)
Head Coach: Michael Otieno,Assistant Coach: Dominique Habimana,Team Manager: Wangila Simiyu,Physio: Chris Makachia

The Warembo holding aloft the title last year. (Photo cortesy of harvesttone.com)

Both squads look very impressive with a good blend of the flare that the youth brings and the experience of the older heads to control things. Ladies Coach Steve Sewe was brimming with confidence that his girls (hehe) will do the job in Kampala. Their main goal will be to get the advantage over the Nyabos and come build on it next weekend. The warembo narrowly lost 8-5 last year before turning the heat on the nyabos when they came visiting here 16-8. 

To the men, the squad includes 8 new faces, head coach Tank Otieno said he wanted to expose the young players to this level of rugby with the CAR coming up later in the year. The notable new face include the Quins pair of Center Nick Barasa and half back Eden Agero with Homeboyz half back Steve Sakwa all of who have had a great season for their clubs. The others include Nakuru front rows Duncan Mwangi and Sammy Warui who have been instrumental for the Wanyore, The other Quin Chris Oduor who has made the #15 jersey his and rightfully so. Strath's Maurice Mbai and finally the impressive Dan Sikuta who is only in his first season.

Last time in out in Kampala, Kenya led 13-3 going into the half but fell to a second half onslaught from the sebos finally going down 18-13. This time out the men will be looking to take the early lead and hold on to it this time. The elgon cup has always had a trend that the home team always wins, I feel that this will be the year that we break this trend and beat the sebos both home and away. Watajuaje tulikua dubai? hehe..

That being said, it is not going to be easy, just like Tank pointed out, the Ugandans are very strong in the forwards and we will have to contain them here in order to have a shot at the game. Tank went on to say that we will not under estimate their back line, I guess he was just being respectful as we will surely look to run them all the way. I do expect a win here to ensure that we comfortably win this year's title, to show for all the exposure we have had.

News just in is that Quins won the appeal they lodged to play Kisumu, the game will be played before the 29th so I guess with that Nakuru will have to wait for this game to be played before they start celebrating..if at all they will be celebrating hehe..

With that ladies and gentlemen, make sure you catch the game on SS9 east and lets get behind our peoples.....aannnnnddddd..

KWISHA!!!!