Real Rugby is back..

I highly doubt that there is a happier group of people in Kenya rugby right around this time than the front rows. For several weeks now they have been reduced to fans or the odd team manager's post as the spotlight went to their faster counter parts. Finally it's their time once again and as they put it..Real Rugby Is Back!!

The 31st edition of Kenya's only floodlit tournament, the Airtel Impala Floodlights kicks off tomorrow at the Impala grounds and will run for three weekends, that is to the 20th of October. As is the norm, 8 club sides will be doing battle for the overall title, 8 campus sides for the Universities title.  Here is the full draw: 


Club Fixtures    

Mean Machine v Strathmore Leos - 3.00pm

KCB v Nondies  - 4.30pm
Nakuru Vs Blak Blad - 6.00pm
Quins v Impala - 7.30pm

Universities Fixtures

Kenya Poly v. M. Media (10 am @ Impala)
Kemu v. USIU (1030 am @ RFUEA)
JKUAT v. MachineII (1200 @ RFUEA)
Strath II v. B.Blad II (1.30@RFUEA)

 

There is also going to be a schools' fixture with the MFA taking on Alliance at the RFUEA at 2:30pm, the rest of the fixtures will be confirmed seeing as the teachers were on strike and all.

 

Initially, Nakuru were set to play Mwamba in the 6pm kick off but kulabu withdrew due to reasons that are unclear to the writer. So I'm guessing that it's a bit too early for the black shirts to play considering that they have not yet healed from the sevens season..lol! The spot ended up with Blakblad after Homeboyz decided that they are concentrating on the upcoming Kenya Cup season..

 

That aside, we have 4 very interesting fixtures in the club category, two derbies and two highly unpredictable encounters. Defending champions Machine will start their title defence against bitter rivals Strathmore in the university derby. This fixture will be pitting the defending champions against the former champions. Machine who tend to grab the spotlight in this tourney will be looking to put up the show that saw them win last year's edition against all odds. Strathmore who were the champions before Machine will look to wrestle past the defending champions as they seek to reclaim their former glory.

 

The second fixture sees last year's finalists KCB battle it out against Nondies, shouldn't this one be referred to as the 'Lions derby?' The green lions have had the upper hand over their red counter parts but this one looks like its going to be a pretty close one. Us guys of Nondies having acquired the services of KCB half back Collins Kimani bringing the number of former green lions in the red pride to 5. It is always tricky when you come up against former players and KCB have 5 to worry about, though you know what they say..you can not teach your teacher. Lets wait and see if that saying holds..

 

The third fixture of the day pits last season's high fliers though in different leagues in Nakuru and Blakblad. Nakuru who finished a close second in last seasons Kenya Cup will be welcoming the 15's season with open arms. The wanyore will be looking to pick up their hunt for silverware from where they left off in July. The rift valley side start this tournament in my book as one of the three favourites for the title alongside KCB and Quins. Blakblad who will be making a return to the top flight for the first time in this half of the decade will be looking to kick start that reign in style. The blad were unbeaten on their way to the universities league last season, though they are coming up against a higher calibre of oppsition they will be looking to carry that form into the top flight and show that they deserve this spot.

 

The last fixture of the day features the biggest of them all, the Ngong road derby..Quins taking on hosts Impala. The Kenya Cup and sevens champions Quins will be looking to add to their now crowded trophy cabinet a title they have not won in the recent past. The Quins floodlit campaign over the recent past has featured second string sides whether this trend will carry on is yet to be seen. I expect the quartered shirts to bring out their best side, seeing as the tournament falls perfectly in pre-season and will offer a great platform to test their combinations. Impala who have had a season to forget will be looking to kick start this one on a high and what better way to do that than to beat your fiercest of rivals in your home tournament? I bet the red shirts are under pressure from their old guards seeing as they beat Quins at the vets category of the Safari sevens hehe..

 

 The Universities category will also see 4 fixtures played out, the early kick off between Kenya Polytechnic University Day and Boarding College Secondary Primary and Nursery school and Multimedia at the Impala grounds, the rest will be played at the RFUEA. 

 

This year's Impala floodlight tournament is set to be the biggest one yet, with Impala engaging various sponsors to pull out all the stands to make sure you have full muenjoyo..what with a village, and all. I am yet to confirm whether the 40 bob Kibao shots will be on offer...but hey didn't you read that there will be a village?! 

The club games are also set to be streamed live on www.impalarugby.com, (which is by the way, best rugby website I have seen this far..great job!!) A first for the tournament...

 

Still on 15's rugby but across the border, Uganda's G4S Pirates have borrowed the services of a handful of Nakuru RFC's best in Lawi Buyachi, Nick Lango, Calvin Otieno and Kelvin Omiyo for the Uganda Cup, equivalent to our Enterprise Cup. The quartet played in the Pirates 51-5 demolition of a team called Summerkamp (only the ssebos would name a club summer camp..smh!)..I guess the Pirates needed a few lessons in how to play the game..we are always happy to help our neighbours. The quartet is set to get back to Nakuru in time for the Kenya Cup season...

 

The squad to the opening leg of this season's HSBC sevens the Gold coast sevens (13-14 Oct, Australia) was named earlier today. Mike Friday included 3 debutants in his 12, the three Eden Agero, Cyrprian Kuto and Davis Chenge. The squad will be led by Andrew Amonde assisted by Biko Adema will face England, Samoa and Spain in Pool C. As coincidence would have it, Friday faces England in his first fixture, the former roses captain and coach had this to say..

 

"It's a different kettle of fish for me now, it's about Kenya, their journey and their evolution and England are just a team that are in our way." 

On whether he will be out to upset the form book when he faces his former side, 

 "..the respect for the England team will be there but there will be full-blooded commitment from Kenya and we will be doing our utmost to upset the form book and get a win in that opening match of the new HSBC Sevens World Series."

You can read the full interview on Ur7.com here http://ur7s.com/news/1821/6_years_on_and_mike_friday_is_back_with_kenya 

The squad is as follows:

Andrew Amonde (KCB, Captain), Biko Adema (Nondescripts, Vice Captain), Oscar Ouma (Nakuru), Davis Chenge (Western Bulls), Horace Otieno (Mwamba), David Ambunya(Western Province,South Africa), Eden Agero (Kenya Harlequin), Michael Wanjala (Strathmore Leos), Collins Injera (Mwamba), William Ambaka (Kenya Harlequins), Dennis Ombachi (Mwamba), Cyprian Kuto (Strathmore Leos)

Non Travelling Reserves: Patrice Agunda (Kenya Harlequin), Phillip Wamae (KCB), Dennis Muhanji (Kenya Harlequin), Fabian Olando (KCB)

Management: Mike Friday (Head Coach), Felix Ochieng (Assistant Coach), Christopher Brown (Strength and Conditioning Coach), George Odhiambo (Physiotherapist), Steve Sewe (Team Manager)

A great side I must say, the perfect balance of brain and brute from the Morans and Shujaa sides we saw at Safari sevens..though I had hoped that Sikuta would have been in there somewhere, as I know most of you would have opted for other faces...but hey that is why we have a coach and a technical bench that has worked over the past months with this team and know what they are doing. So join me in shutting up and getting behind the boys....as walker Texas ranger puts it.. "The team lekuires pechience, as we build strukshas for plospelity, we will face shallenjes but when the resots start coming in, it will be for oll to see" (I hope nimemake sense..lol!)

Finally on the sevens side, KQ has lined up a bonus package for the boys according to their performances, for every Quarter final won, 1000 USD inside, for every Semi final won, 2000 USD inside, for every final won, 3000 USD inside, for every Main Cup final won, account za watu zitaread +5000 USD. And all the gold diggers ululated here...

That is about all folks, let's meet up kesho at the Impala grounds and a free tip, please leave early with the ongoing ASK Nairobi show, traffic on Ngong road is set to be a female rogue dog.

As I depart, congratulations to Kenya's most capped sevens player Lavin Asego as he fungas pingu za maisha kesho..

With that ladies and gents...

KWISHA!!!! Nimeruka nje...