The Elgon Cup Review.

Photo Courtesy of Sports news arena.

We start this one on a very sad note..as you must have heard Aberdeen Shikhoyi fondly known as Abesh among her Peers, the captain of the Kenya Women's National Team passed away at the Nairobi Hospital on Saturday 28 April 2012. She had suffered a displaced neck vertebrae in Kampala during the first leg of the Elgon cup (21st April) and was airlifted to Nairobi Hospital on the same night. She was paralysed from the waist down and underwent surgery on Sunday, she was slowly recuperating until Saturday evening when she succumbed to the injuries.Tributes have come pouring in from far and wide, testimony to the kind of person she was..May she rest in complete comfort in the loving arms of our Father. 
I'd like to commend the Uganda Rugby Medical Society who did a great and swift job of diagnosing and stabilising Aberdeen on the ground. 

Members of URMS stabilising Aberdeen, at Kyadondo, KLA. (Photo Courtesy of URMS)

The lionesses had earlier in the day successfully won their fifth Elgon Cup title in a row after beating the Nyabos 15-3 (22-18 agg.) after what was a high tempered match at Impala. The lionesses had only one thing in mind to win it for their captain and it will be understood that the passions bubbled over in several instances. The try scorers were Phila Olando and Linda Nabwa, with a conversion and penalty from Janet Owino's boot. Congratulations to the warembo who played their hearts out to win this one, sad that they did not get the opportunity to present the trophy to their captain. Though I am sure she looks down on her comrades proudly and smiling as they ensured that she rested just as she lived...A CHAMPION! 

The Lions fell just two points short of winning their sixth title in a row to a resilient Uganda side, the men were 12-0 winners on the day but 21-19 losers on aggregate. The game was a tight affair in the first half with no points scored though the visitors were living by the edge, Bishop Onen was sent to the sin bin early on the half though Kenya failed to make the numeral advantage count. The Sebbos did well to defend wave after wave of their hosts attack with possession standing at 69-31 on 20 minutes in favour of the lions. Kenya were however making life hard for themselves with several handling errors and were still suffering at the line outs.This coupled with the Ugandan's defense saw the half end scoreless.

Come the second half Kenya made two changes with Curtis Lilako coming in for Warui and Lawi Buyachi for Libasia.The changes immediately bore fruit with Lilako involved in a move that ended up in a try for Buyachi at 44 minutes with Eden Agero missing the conversion .Kenya now with a new impetus would further stretch their lead within three minutes Tony Onyango benefiting from great work by Muhanji to touch down between the posts Agero this time making no mistake, 12-0.Uganda would try to get back into the game, Anthony Kinene's penalty hitting the post was the closest they came as Kenya continued probing for the score to win them the title. With 10 minutes to play the Nairobi skies opened up thus slowing down the play to the delight of the visitors who had the easy job of holding off the Kenyan attacks and booting the ball away. This they did to the last minute and thus securing their first Elgon cup since 2006, they really wanted it..imagine going on a 6 year dry spell hehe..(Heads up Arsenal fans, if Uganda can do it...) 

What many don't realise is that this was a very young squad we put out and with the C.A.R/W.cup qualifiers and Victoria cup coming up, the dividends of exposing these young talents to the international stage will soon be seen. My man of the match, though he played only 40 minutes is Lawi Buyachi he added a certain dimension in attack that we had lacked in the first half, bamboozling the Uganda defence at every opportunity. Notable mentions are Wilson Kopondo, Dennis Muhanji, Ronnie Mwenesi and captain Joel Nganga. I read an interesting quote from a Uganda player think it was by Wokorach he said that it was by far the toughest match he has ever played. Really? we were only playing at 20% hehe seriously though the sebbos put up one hell of a fight, I wont say that they wanted it more but they deserved it. Congratulations to them next year we are coming for our trophy so keep it well, we know that you are not used to them.

The Kenya Cup finally came to an end on Saturday with Quins humbling Kisumu 73-5 at the St.Mary's school Nairobi. With this win, Quins won their 4th title in a row though it was not as easy as it sounds you'll have to look at where they were on the log with 4 game weeks played to appreciate this fact. The quartered shirts finish on 69 points. The Kondele boys end the season bottom of the league on 13 points but as I have said before..I am sure that they have learned a lot.   

The sevens squad for the Glasgow and London sevens departed on Sunday for Scotland..here are the Kenyan times for the games, incase you forgot we are pooled alongside England, Australia and USA.

ENG - KEN 3:04pm
AUS - KEN 5:48
USA - KEN 8:15pm

Finally favourable times for us this side of the Greenwich, hakuna kuangalia game na macho moja ju ya usingizi..you have no excuse whatsoever to miss a game. More on the sevens in the Weekend's preview. 

The KRU Special general meeting to handle the outstanding issues from the last A.G.M was held last night. Among the outstanding issues was the election on Vice chairman. Sasha Mutai was voted the new Vice chairman of the Kenya Rugby Union, with 26 votes to Sadik's 12. The number of clubs affiliated to KRU increased to 37 with the following names being added to that list: Multimedia University, Eldoret RFC, Portland RFC, Shepherds RFC, Spartans RFC, Thika RFC, Kenya Polytechnic and Catholic University.

Remember when I asked rather sang "What's that coming over the hill?" well I am sure you can see it more clearly what with a little over three days to kick off...BAMBURI...BAMBURII..BAAAMMBBUURII!! *Herbo's voice"   

The players with the trophy, so who's taking it?

  
Finally the union released an update on the arrangements for Aberdeen last night and the statement read in part...
"...A fund raiser to offset funeral expenses will be held  at 5.00pm on Saturday 5 May 2012 at the Nairobi Railway Club....
There will be a memorial service celebrating Aberdeen’s life at 2.00pm on Monday 7 May 2012 at the Friends Church, Ngong’ Road. All her friends as well as members of the rugby fraternity are requested to turn out and honour Aberdeen."

With that ladies and Gentlemen.....

KWISHA!!!!