Finally, the weekend is here…this week had really dragged its feet or was it only me? Maybe the week knew the matches that would be staged this weekend hence it just wanted us to wait that much longer… Here are those fixtures :
Kenya Cup
Homeboyz vs Strathmore
Kisumu vs Impala
Nondies vs Machine
KCB vs Mwamba
Quins vs Nakuru
ESS
Homeboyz II vs Strathmore
Western Bulls vs Impala
Nondies II vs Mchine II
KCB II vs Mwamba II
Quins II vs Nakuru II
Nationwide Plate Semi
Maseno vs Webuye
Kakamega II vs Kisumu II
Main Cup Quarter
Masinde Muliro vs Mombasa
Main cup Semi
Eldoret vs BlakBlad
As you can see there are mouth watering ties all around, even in the Nationwide league where they are also getting to the okombe phase. This week’s fixtures in the Kenya cup features two matches between teams that will be under the same franchise come the super series in Quins vs Nakuru (Rhinos) and KCB vs Mwamba (Lions), furthermore the winner of this year’s title could be decided at the weekend, key word being could.
We start at the Impala club where a rejuvenated Homeboyz side will play host to Strathmore. Strath are third going into this one (42 points) and with their title hopes hanging on a rope they will know that they can’t afford to lose this fixture. Infact with the top of the table clash they will look to take advantage of any slip ups by the two clubs above them. To do this they have to get past a very tricky Homeboyz side who will relish this challenge. The Djs will be buoyed by the huge victory over Kisumu last week and will be looking to build up on that result. This one will be at pretty tricky fixture, it could go any way really, the last time these two met the XXVII crew edged out the Djs 16-6.
At the Kisumu Polytechnic grounds, last placed Kisumu host a quickly sliding Impala side that is 6th on 29 points. Kisumu will fancy their chances owing to the fact that they are at home and two their visitors have been in a slump of late and will look to pile on the misery of the red shirts. Impala have a new coach in former captain Innocent Simiyu after they dismissed Bill Githinji owing to the recent dismal performances. The Kenyan superman would not have asked for a better fixture to start his tenure. The red shirts will look to this game to turn around their season and at least salvage what is left of their pride, the last time these two met Impala thumped Kisumu 59-3.
Nondies will come knocking at the UoN grounds in the mid table or is it lower table clash? Machine are 7th on 24 points while Nondies are 8th on 23. Both sides are coming into this one off derby loses, Machine to their Sharks counterparts Strathmore and Nondies to their bitter rivals the lunch bar quins, so expect both sides to come out with everything as they look to erase those bitter losses. The last time these two met Nondies took the day 12-3, thus Nondies will be out to complete the double while Machine will be out for revenge. With the eschuma finally playing at their ground again expect them to defend and their 7th place vehemently.
To the first of this weekend’s big fixtures, this one at the lion’s den, KCB taking on Mwamba. Both sides still harbor hopes of clinching this season’s title however slim. KCB are 4th on 41 points, while Kulabu are a point adrift in fifth. Whether or not one of these two is to be crowned champion in April is really out of their hands at this point, they just have to win all their remaining games and hope that results elsewhere go their way. This fact makes this fixture that much more interesting, as the loser will definitely see any remaining hopes vanish with the wind. The last time these two met, that sibling combination of Collins Injera and Humphrey Kayange played a big role in taming the lion 22-10, this time round the two will not feature, but as kulabu have shown this season they can do just fine without the bro axis.
To the RFUEA for the other block buster, the top of the table clash, the potential title decider pitting two sides that will fall under the rhinos franchise come Bamburi…The Lunch Bar Quins taking on Nakuru RFC. Only three points separate these two going into this game, Quins are on 49 points while the Wanyore are on 46.The two inform sides will clash in what is expected to be a real cracker in every sense of the word. With the Kenya cup within their grasps the winner of this one will surely have their fingers on the trophy. Though a Nakuru victory will take them just a point above their opponents, depending on the score they might even tie at the top on points. A quins victory on the other hand will see them all but run away with this one. The wanyore will fancy their chances here as they did convincingly beat Quins 13-0 at their fortress last time out. Quins will look to correct that score and carry on their impressive form that has seen them rise from the ashes to the top of the league. So who will take this one?
In other news the sevens squad to Hong Kong will be named later today, the good news being Humphrey Kayange who most thought would not be available will be linking up with the squad in Hong Kong. Apart from that I expect minimal changes to the squad that did duty in Vegas, Ashioya and Moseti are out due to injury. Nothing much to add here let’s just wait for the final 12.
Before I leave..are we ready for the 10th edition of Africa’s premier franchise rugby tournament?…..Bamburi…Bamburi…BAAMBURIIIII!!