Match Day 4 Preview and the Mboys are Back!!!

First up..apologies for the lack of action here over the last week or so, goes to show that it's about time I got a co-writer(s).

A fair amount of things have happened over the past weeks, let's start with the most recent, Big Mike named his 15 to do duty at the Dubai (Dec 1-2) and George (Dec 8-9) legs of the H.S.B.C sevens circuit. The squad sees several familiar faces make their way back to the squad the seasoned duo of Lavin Asego and Sidney Ashioya, Patrice Agunda making his way back to the squad, so does Phillip Wamae who made his debut at George last season. The Big M. handing Oscar Ayodi, Billy Odhiambo and and Fabian Olando their first call ups, the trio will be making their debuts in South Africa, the rest of the squad remains the same as it was at the Gold Coast the 15 are:

1. Andrew Amonde (Captain) 2. Dennis Ombachi 3. Collins Injera 4. Horace Otieno 5. Oscar Ouma 6. Davis Chenge 7. William Ambaka 8. Sidney Ashioya 9. Patrice Agunda 10. Lavin Asego 11. Philip Wamae 12. Biko Adema 13. Fabian Olando 14. Oscar Ayodi 15. Billy Odhiambo

The three debutants will come in for Oscar ouma, Biko Adema and Collins Injera who have other commitments back home after the Dubai leg. This squad sees a total of 4 changes from the one that did duty down under, Mike Wanjala, Cyprian Kuto, David Ambunya and Eden Agero making way. Eden is out due to injuy, Wanjala due to school commitments, seeing their replacements in Philip Wamae, Patrice Agunda, Lavin Asego and Sidney Ashioya all worry goes out the window. 

This is a better set, a better blend of experience and youth of brute and flair, we have very flexible players in this 15 who can be deployed all over the turf, take Agunda for instance, Ayodi, Olando and Wamae. More on the sevens as we approach the Dubai sevens..

Here's a photo of the lads in the new strip, two things I need to mention, I hope I'm not alone in saying that I wont be looking forward to seeing them in this strip that is if they will be playing in it at all and two, where I got the image, Hata ka ni water mark jamani KRU eish...

The Ladies squad was also named by coach Kevin 'Bling' Wambua, it sees little change to the one we are used to, the ever green Doreen Remour lead her troops to the invitational Dubai sevens. The squad is:

1. Doreen Remour (Captain), 2. Philadelphia Olando, 3. Catherine Abila, 4. Linda Nandwa, 5. Linda Anyango 6. Mary Otieno 7. Janet Owuor 8. Mary Musieka 9. Celestine Navayalo 10. Irene Awino 11. Angela Olum 12. Rachel Odhiambo. 

Locally the leagues have been taking shape, in the Chairman's Universities edition, Catholic University lead on a maximum 15 points, coming off 3 bonus point victories, the team from neighbouring Rongai is followed by Thika RFC on 10 points and KEMU a point further. Daystar take 4th but equal on points with Comras (8 points), the other new comers Stormers come in at sixth on 4 points, Kimathi (2), Nazarene (2) and MKU (-4) completing the log. That negative tally for MKU is due to failing to honour to of their fixtures.The following fixtures will be played out this weekend in this edition:

Chairman's League (Universities Edition)
KEMU Rest 
Daystar vs Thika (3pm Daystar Athi River)
Nazarene vs Catholic(Postponed)
Mt Kenya vs Kimathi Uni (TBC)
Comras vs Stormers (3pm Kibiko High School)

In the Coast edition of the same category, Mombasa II lead the way on 9 points, tied on points with JKUAT Voi with the vijana wa mwambao boasting a superior points tally. KEMU Nairobi (6), Mombasa Poly (5), Spartans (4), Pwani University (3), Masaku (2) and Shepherds (0) completing the log in that order. The fixtures here will be as follows.

Chairman's League (Coast Edition)
Mombasa Poly vs KEMU Nrb (3pm Mombasa Sports Club)
Pwani Uni vs Masaku (1:30 pm Mombasa Sports Club)
Shepherds vs Jkuat Voi (2pm Mombasa Sports Club -Pitch B)

In the Nationwide, East side edition, the 2012 Floodlit University Champions USIU lead the log on 10 points after winning two of their 3 fixtures played. Mombasa RFC, Kenya poly and as I was besieged to refer to them the Egerton WASPS (hehe) follow all on 9 points. Mombasa and Kenya Poly are practically inseparable, tied on aggregate score, the coast side getting the better of the Polytechnic on points scored. Also note USIU and Egerton have played a fixture more than their counter parts. JKUAT (5), Multimedia (5), Oryx (1), Kabarak (1) and KCA (-2). The following fixtures will be played out at the weekend:

NationWide (Eastern)
Kenya Poly vs Multimedia (3pm Nazarene University)
Oryx vs KCA (3pm KCA University)
Mombasa vs JKUAT(1st Dec game brought forward )
Egerton vs Kabarak (3pm Egerton)

The west side connection *insert gang sign here..hehe seriously though the Western edition the trio of Masinde Muliro, Moi University and Bungoma RFC lead the log all on 9 points, Masinde Muliro though taking the pole position, impressively they have not conceded a single point this far. Kakamega II come in 4th on 6 points, Eldoret and Siaya are 5th and 6th respectively both on 5 points, the latter matching Masinde Muliro's feat in not conceding a point though they have played just 1 game. Maseno University (1), Kisii RFC (0) and Webuye RFC (0) complete the log. The fixtures here :

NationWide (Western)
Bungoma Rest
Maseno vs Moi Uni (3pm Maseno University)
Kakamega II vs Masinde Muliro (12pm Kakamega High)
Webuye vs Eldoret (3pm Webuye DEB)
Kisii vs Siaya (3pm Kisii University)

In the second tier Eric Shirley shield, defending champions Quins II keep their title defence alive and well, leading the log on 15 points after 3 matches. Nakuru II hot on their heels with 13 points, the junior Wanyore boasting the tightest defence having let in an average of a point per game this far. Strath II are 3rd on 11 points a point ahead of the cubs of KCB who have played to games, Impala II (9), Nondies II (8), Mwamba II (5), Blakblad II (4), Machine II (1), Homeboyz II (1), Kisumu II (0) and Kakamega RFC (0).      The lads from western finding the going tough this far letting in an average of 46 points a match. The following fixtures will be played out:

ESS
Kakamega vs Kisumu II (2pm Kakamega High)
Blakblad II vs MeanMachine II (2pm Kenyatta University)
Harlequins II vs Homeboyz II (2pm RFUEA)
Nakuru II vs Nondescripts II (2pm NAC)
KCB II vs Impala II (2pm KCB Sports Club)
Strathmore II vs Mwamba II (2pm UON)

The top flight sees, the Lunch bars sit side by side at the top of the log with last years runners up Nakuru RFC both on 15 points, Quins boasting of a superior points difference (99 to Nakuru's 63). Coming in third is Mwamba on 13 points, KCB are 4th on 10 the Lions who have been rampant in their two games so far, they boast of the meanest attack averaging 49.5 points a game. Coming in impressively at 5th are new comers Western Bulls on 8 points, Nondies (6), Homeboyz (4), Impala (2), Kisumu (1), Blakblad and Machine (0) complete the log.

Kenya Cup

Western Bulls vs Kisumu (4pm Kakamega High)
Blakblad vs MeanMachine (4pm Kenyatta University Thika Rd)
Harlequins vs Homeboyz (4pm RFUEA)
Nakuru vs Nondescripts (4pm NAC)
KCB vs Impala (4pm KCB Sports Club)
Strathmore vs Mwamba (4pm UON)

The highlight of the pile has to be Mwamba vs Strathmore at the UoN grounds, Impala face what looks like an uphill task of getting their season back on track when they visit the high scoring KCB. Western Bulls host their second game at the Kakamega High School when Kisumu make the short trip to the Western county. Nondies are the unfortunate side to make the trip to the fortress that is the N.A.C, as Homeboyz skip over their fence to face the defending champions. Machine play their second university derby when they travel to the Bladbin a fixture they must fancy to record their first win of the campaign.

I was challenged over the last post to go a step further in my previews and make score predictions, now I am not the one to take challenges lying down. For those who have been with me for a while, will be laughing their behinds off as every time I've tried my hand in predicting I have failed miserably. Anyway here goes:

Western Bulls 18-12 Kisumu

BlakBlad 12-15 Mean Machine

Harlequins 38-7 Homeboyz

Nakuru 25-11 Nondies

KCB 35-12 Impala

Strathmore 14-21 Mwamba

Feel free to add your predictions in the comments section, TC kazi kwako..hehe.

Finally the union announced a partnership with the 2012 Currie Cup champions Western Province, under the deal players will train under the WP franchise, these players will be selected by one Jerome Paarwaters who will be arriving with Western province fitness and conditioning coach Stephan Du Tiot on a week long camp. A very positive move from the union if it materialises, remember the time Mpumalanga came visiting and they were supposed to take the tight 5 for further training? yeah...but a positive move as walker texas ranger noted that we are aiming to play 8-6 international fixtures a year. 

As I depart I'm thinking of starting a videos segment, where I put up a video from the local scene here, let's hope this is the first of many..this one from the Blad Quins game, mtu aseme Stool time.

So get those cameras, phones and china phones too and get recording, you know where to find me, I'll post the best here..this one courtesy of Maurice 'Moreh' from Blakblad.

On the salams corner, this one a special one to a special couple..first belated birthday wishes to one Christine 'Shiro' Wanjiru who celebrated her birthday this week, and a big Congratulations to Wamae Phillip who is graduating from K.C.A with a Bsc in I.T, yako inafaa kuja na the power to read and play the game..so swali ni, tutacelebrate gani Sato?!

With that ladies and gentlemen...enjoy the weekend ahead aaaannnnnndddddddd.......

KWISHA....Nimeruka Nje!!!!