This season a total of 14 sides will do battle for 15 game weeks to crown the 2013/14 champion. The addition of Eldoret and Mombasa sees the union's ambitious growth program come full circle. This season will see the re introduction of relegation with the two last sides at the end of the season being dropped to the Nationwide league.
Top Fry Nakuru RFC vs Mombasa (4:00 pm, N.A.C)
Defending champions Top Fry Nakuru, kick off their defence against new boys Mombasa at their Nakuru Athletic Club backyard. Nakuru will feature a few changes from last season's all conquering side with Dominic 'Papa' Habimana taking up the head coach role replacing Eric Situma. Despite the change at the helm, the Wanyore begin this campaign as favourites to retain their title. It is expected to be one way traffic at the 'Suguta' Valley as the Wanyore look to keep that unbeaten home run going. |
| Nakuru in action in last year's final. |
Mombasa will have their work cut out for them as they kick off the season at probably the toughest place to play at. The side will however look to make a statement here and will not be push overs. Their main objective this season should be to stay up then build from there.
Strathmore Leos vs Eldoret RFC (4:00 pm, Strathmore University)
Runners up, Strathmore Leos kick off their campaign against last season's Nationwide champions Eldoret RFC at the cage in Madaraka. The Leos looked sharp as they stretched eventual Floodies champions KCB in their quarter final. They will be looking to kick off this campaign in style as they strive to go one better from last season. |
| The Leos |
This one looks like another mismatch as Eldoret are set for the proverbial baptism of fire. The hard tackling side will however look to announce their arrival at the big stage with an upset here. That could be in the form of a much tighter score than we expect, as they look to stay afloat at the end of the season.
KCB vs Kisumu (4:00 pm, KCB Sports Club Ruaraka)
Recently crowned Impala Floodlit champions KCB, welcome Kisumu RFC to the Lion's den for their first fixture of the season. The Lions who finished third last season, will have to put the Floodies victory behind them and settle in for this campaign that many feel is their's to lose. The bankers have been in imperious form since the start of the 2013/14 season picking up the sevens and the floodlit titles. They will be looking to carry on with that form here when they face Kisumu.
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| The 2013 Floodies Champions |
KCB have also been one of the most active sides as far as transfers going acquiring the services of Maurice Mbai, Steve Matioli, Ken Moseti, Polycap Luaki, Steve Oluoch and most notably Allan Omuka from Quins and the Artur twins from Kisumu.
The last two will be facing their former mates at the weekend in what is set to be an emotional affair for the twins. Kisumu, 11th placed finishers from last season will be looking to build from the lessons they picked up in that campaign and probably escape the drop at the end of this season. They will be looking for a strong start here, last time the two met KCB were 45-8 winners.
Lunch Bar Quins vs Mean Machine (4:00 pm, RFUEA)
Previous Kenya Cup champions Quins begin their campaign at home to Mean Machine RFC. Quins who finished 5th last season have kept a low profile after the close of the sevens season as they prepared for this campaign. The quartered shirts will be looking for a strong start here as they look to make a statement to their opponents and anyone else who might have written them off from the title chase.
Last time these two met, the match ended in a 17 all draw at the UoN grounds. If at the end of 80 minutes the score board reads the same, Machine will be the happier of the two sides no doubt.
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| Quins in action against Strathmore last season (Photo - Chris Kibe) |
The Eschuma have been going through a slump of some proportion after last season with key players moving on to 'greener pastures.' They were placed 10th at the close of last season, having put together some great performances. That slump culminated at their favourite tournament the just concluded Floodies where their frailties were clear for all to see. Some are already tipping the famous white and blue to face the axe at the close of the season. That however is still far fetched, as the side has a chance at redemption starting at the RFUEA grounds this Saturday.
Mwamba vs Blakblad (4:00 pm, Nairobi Railways Club)
After hosting the 2013 Kabeberi sevens earlier in the year, the Railways Club will welcome back Kenya Cup action when Mwamba welcome Blakblad. With it's rich history, this fixture is well suited for the occasion.
Kulabu surprised many last season, making it to the Semi finals of the Kenya Cup at the expense of then defending champions Quins on their way to a 4th place finish. The black shirts will be out to go all the way this season and though they might be outside favourites in many books they will fancy their chances. A young Mwamba side was knocked out at the Floodies quarter final, they will be looking to get back from that defeat and start this campaign on the right footing.
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| Action from last season (Photo - Kulabu) |
Blad finished last season without winning a match, inevitably finishing at the bottom of the pile. They will be looking to quickly lose that tag this season seeing as it comes with a guaranteed spot in the Nationwide league. The Floodies Universities champion will be hoping to cause an upset here and kick off this season in style. Last time these two met in the league, Mwamba were run away 40-23 winners at the Blad bin.
Total Nondies vs Western Bulls (4:00 pm, Red Lion)
The last match on the cards in this opening weekend will see Nondies host the Western Bulls at the Jamuhuri Park. This was coincidentally the last match for the two from last season, so you could say they will be picking up from where they left off last time.
Nondies, 6th placed finishers last season, which marked a big improvement from them, are fresh from relinquishing the Floodlit title to KCB. They will be looking to pick themselves up and get this campaign to a strong start and go better than last season. Before that loss to KCB, the white shirts had looked superior in their forward play, it is this form they will be looking to replicate at their home ground.
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| (Photo - Western Bulls) |
The Echulusi who finished 9th in their debut last season, have had quite the preparation for this campaign, that culminated in a tour of Kampala against the Buffaloes. All that work will be put to test when they face Nondies, when they hosted the rangers in Kakamega last season they were narrow 27-26 winners. They will be hoping for another win here as they look to improve on last season's posting.This one is bound to be a tight one.
The fixture between Impala and Homeboyz was postponed to a later date, as a bulk of the Impala players will be turning up for the Singapore Cricket Club Sevens this weekend. We wish them all the best!!
Eric Shirley Shield
The second tier Eric Shirley Shield keep to its tradition of running concurrently with the Kenya Cup, with Eldoret II and Mombasa II the new additions. Western Bulls II replace Kakamega who now move to the Nationwide.Defending champions, the Arturos of Quins open their campaign at home against the Ninjas of Machine. The Arturos will be looking to go 3 seasons unbeaten on their way to picking up the third title in a row. It is no secret that they are overwhelming favourites at the start of the season.
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| The 2012/13 ESS Champions (Photo - Chris Kibe) |
Last year's losing finalists the Cubs of KCB are expected to offer the toughest challenge to the Arturos, they kick off their campaign at home to Kisumu II.
Other fixtures will see the Catulus of Strathmore, losing finalists in the Floodies Universities category square it out against new boys Eldoret II. Here are the collated fixtures :
ESS Fixtures (Kick Off 2pm):
Nakuru II vs Mombasa II (NAC)
Strathmore II vs Eldoret II (Strathmore Uni, Madaraka)
KCB II vs Kisumu II (KCB Sports Club, Ruaraka)
Quins II vs Machine II (RFUEA)
Mwamba II vs Blakblad II (Railways Club, Nairobi)
Nondies II vs Western Bulls II (Jamuhuri Park)
Impala II vs Homeboyz II (4pm, Impala club)
To my Kenya cup predictions :
Nakuru over Mombasa +60
Strathmore over Eldoret +50
KCB over Kisumu +50
Quins over Machine +30
Mwamba over Blad +15
Western Bulls over Nondies +5
With that ladies and gents, another season is upon us, buckle up and keep it here as we enjoy the roller coaster ride that is the Kenya Cup....
KWISHA...Nimeruka Nje!!!
P.S Are you following @OSB_Ke on Twitter.. and have you liked Odd Shaped Balls Kenya on Facebook? Haiya ruka ndani chap chap!
That Strath score though...
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