Elgon Cup Round 1.

Ladies and gentlemen..fellow country men, it is that time of the year when we draw our border lines and defend our territory with all we have. Ladies and gents, the 9th edition of the Elgon Cup is here with us.

This year's edition sees several shifts from the norm, first, the Uganda rugby cranes come into this one as defending champions, that tag comes with the right of hosting the second leg. Most of us were so used to having the second leg in Nairobi that we took it for granted.

The Nairobi leg will be moving from it's traditional home the RFUEA grounds, for the first time in the tournament's history and will be held at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani.

Kenya Lionesses vs Uganda Lady Cranes (K.O 3:30 PM, MISCK)

The Kenya Lionesses will be defending the title they emotionally won last year moments before losing their captain Aberdeen Shikoyi. That year, the lionesses went down 15-6 in Kampala before turning the tables on the lady cranes at a soggy Impala club ground to win 15-3 and retain the trophy. To date that remains the most emotionally charged rugby match I have watched. 

There will be very few changes in the two squads to play on Saturday, though I expect a calmer match, as far as emotions go, but no less a spectacle. This will be their first 15's encounter between the sides since that second leg match in April. They most recent encounter between these two perennial rivals was in the CAR sevens main cup semi finals, where the Lady cranes were victorious.

Action from last year, in Kampala.

As if there was not enough incentive going into this match, the winner of the two legs will go ahead and meet South Africa for a chance to represent the continent in the ladies world cup.

The Lionesses have come a long way since last year, a change in management has seen the ladies grow in leaps and bounds, this will be an opportunity to show the growth in front of the home crowd. The squad to take on the lady cranes is as follows :

Camilyne Owuor, Janet Midecha, Rebecca Kerubo, Rachel Adhiambo, Shanice Gaikumi, Sheila Chajira, Angela Olum, Adelaide Nasambu, Rosehilda Kamanga, Dorcas Ocholi, Evelyne Odero, Vivian Cheserek, Laventar Ogutu, Doreen Remuor (Captain), Mary Musieka, Catherine Abilla, Philadelphia Olando, Celestine Navalayo, Janet Awuor, Irene Awino, Janet Okello, Linda Anyango, Robinah Wambui, Linda Nandwa 

The Nyabos donning the Lady crane shirts will be :

Christine Kizito, Rosenburg Kayunyumuzi, Joanita Warry Ssenfuka (captain), Evelyn Aweku, Hellen Gizamba, Loy Mbabazi, Namayega Josephine, Beatrice Atim, Charlotte Mudoola, Harriet Kayonjo, Matilda Tino, Claire Anena, Brenda Kayiyi, Asha Nakityo, Helen Buteme, Fortunate Irankunda, Aalliya Adania, Irene Zigge, Mary Nakanyike, Rachael Kakaire, Mary Kyoita, Jean Nyadoyi, Phiona Nalubwama and Zurah Namatovu

Both sides spotting notable changes but the core of the sides remain the same, the cranes spot the most notable and perhaps significant change in Helen Buteme.

As mentioned earlier this one promises to be a closely fought encounter, the Lionesses with a bit more in it being at home coupled with the Aberdeen factor. A clear win here, anything above 15 points will all but guarantee a 5th Elgon Cup title in a row for the Lionesses.

Kenya XVs vs Uganda Rugby Cranes (K.O 6:00 PM, MISCK)

The Lions on their part will be out for redemption, after losing 19-17 on aggregate to relinquish the Elgon Cup for the first time in 5 years. Since that unsatisfying 12-0 win against the cranes under the Nairobi rain in April, the Kenya fifteens side has been undergoing a transformation. This transformation has seen the engagement of Jerome Paarwater as coach earlier in the year, the South African has been taking the team through a rigorous training and conditional programme over the last 4 months.

Wilson Kopondo in action last year at the RFUEA.

This will be the first time we will be seeing the 'KXV's reloaded' in action, and boy have we waited. The team, fresh from a 10 day camp in South Africa will have all to play for when they take the Kasarani turf on Saturday evening. The team remains largely unchanged from the one that played in the same tournament a year ago, it will be picked from :

Joel Nganga, Vincent Mose, Dennis Karani, Curtis Lilako, Sammy Warui, Wilson Kopondo, Oliver Mang'eni, Anthony Mutai, Duncan Ekasi, Edwin Achayo, Isaac Adimo, Kenny Andola, Nichodemus Barasa, David Mogere, Charles Omondi, Mike Okombe, Brian Nyikuli, Ronnie Mwenesi, Michael Agevi, Isaiah Nyariki, Moses Amusala, Dennis Muhanji, Sammy Oliech, Kevin Ochieng, Lawrence Terer, James Kang'ethe, Joseph Kang'ethe, Joshua Chisanga, Lyle Asiligwa, Kevin Keegan, Isaac Ayonga.

Leon Adongo who also was part of the side sustained an ankle injury while in camp and will be sidelined for a while, we wish him a quick recovery. 

A good number of the 30, up to 20 from my count were involved in last year's leg or legs before that, so they do know what to expect. The new faces in Oliver Mangeni, Issac Ayonga, Lyle Asiligwa, Joshua Chisanga, Sammy Oliech, Kevin Ochieng, Michael Agevi, Lawrence Terer, and Mike Okombe have performed impressively for their respective sides. Transferring those performances to the national side should not be a problem, if I were to pick from the lot I'd love to see Okombe, Oliver, Chisanga, Agevi, Asiligwa and Oliech.

Turning up for the cranes are :

Ronald Adigasi, Paul Barigye, Dennis Mugambi, Asuman Mugerwa, Alex Mubiru (Captain), Paul Sserunjogi, Romano Ogwal ,Dennis Mulo ,Timothy Dumba, Scott Oluoch, Marvin Odong, Andrew Olweny, Arthur Mukama, Robert Sseguya, Ambrose Kamanyire, Jaspher Ochen, Oscar Kalyango, Michael Wokorach (Vice Captain), Timothy Mudoola, Jonathan Onen ,Justin Kimono ,Richard Lumu ,Benon Kizza.

I think those who have been watching the Ugandans for a while could have named this side from the top of their head. Apart from Phillip Wokorach and Mathias Ochwo who are sidelined with injuries. The 23 only has 1 new face in Sserunjogi coming in at hooker, the rest have been here before. The big news from the cranes squad is the return of Robert Sseguya, the veteran back row returns after a year's hiatus due to injury.

Duncan Ekasi tracking a Ssebo in Kampala last year.

We know what the Ssebos will be packing, forward play and more forward play, in the past we have not had answer to the Cranes' tight five play. The BRSS might have given us a solution to this eternal headache, the Ndovu to be particular.

You see, in the past we have tried to match the ssebos in their tight play with little success, we however have had a way around it. Quick balls from the set pieces and using our superior backs to nullify any gains they might have made. This had worked for 5 years until last year when we were caught out, just, a 19-5 first leg loss and a 12-0 win wasn't enough to bag it for a 6th time. The Ugandans had found a way to make their otherwise weak back line stand up to the test. 

The Ndovu who managed to dominate the Rwenzori across the turf at home and away, can teach us a few tricks. Though we only have 4 guys from the Nakuru side, its all down to execution, the Ndovu gave Rwenzori absolutely nothing. It looked like they were playing with 5 back rows, they were all over their opponents. More often than not, a Ndovu forward was running at a Rwenzori back, that only had one end result. Our backs don't need that much help, but creating these mismatches will be crucial.

Close attention will be accorded to the scrums, an area we have struggled with against this opponent. If we can edge this contest then we will be home and dry. These matches will of course serve as a precursor to the CAR division 1A Championship in July. Last year, the Ugandans again managed to escape by the skin of their teeth with a 20-19 win. Winning back the Elgon Cup will be a good start psychologically going into the CAR.

A white wash is not far from reality over the two legs, from what we saw in the super series the Ugandans don't have much to offer. They'll be out to defend every blade of grass, keep the score as tight as possible then open the flood gates in the second leg. We should run them ragged in the first 15 minutes, target 20 points within that time then let the rest play itself out. They'll have to open up and leave spaces as they try to chase the game.

Kampala - 2012.

It wont be as simple as it looks, this one will be a cracker, the small Kasarani turf means the forwards will have a field day out there. No predictions for this one, but it will be a game of very small margins.

The decision to take the tie to Kasarani has not gone down well with a few disgruntled souls, well I think it's a great venue, we should take rugby there permanently. Better facilities, more space, easier to access, and for this tie, it gives us a chance to de stabilize the visitors, they have never seen a super highway you know. That is bound to surprise the day lights out of them...hehe!!

These two matches will be preceded by a 'friendly' between Kenyatta University's Blakblad and University of Nairobi's Mean Machine at 1:30pm, this match has already generated a fair amount of heat on social media. Blad looking to slay their university rivals, this one will be a good way to get warmed up for the serious games later in the day.

Order Of Play

Blakblad vs Mean Machine - 1:30 PM

Kenya Lionesses vs Uganda Lady Cranes - 3:30 PM

Kenya XVs vs Uganda Cranes - 6:00 PM

Gate Charges : 300 Kshs.

With that ladies and Gents, lets turn out on Saturday in loud and proud, as we cheer our sides to victory aaannnnnddddddddd........

KWISHA.....Nimeruka Nje!!!!!!