Years have turned into months, months have turned into weeks, weeks have turned into days and days have been reduced to hours, isn’t that how long it has been since we last had some rugby action? Well it surely did feel like so..
The best African sevens teams apart from South Africa have visited our shores, literally, for the first time in a long while (probably ever) the coastal city of Mombasa will be hosting an international rugby tournament. 12 teams will take to the Mombasa Sports Club on Saturday to battle it out for the inaugural Africa Cup Sevens Trophy. You will agree that the tournament, which is aimed at growing the sevens game in the continent, couldn’t have picked a better place to start it’s journey.
The 12 teams include two local sides (Kenya B and C) who are joined by the squads from Uganda, Senegal, Zambia, Ivory Coast, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Tunisia, Morocco, Madagascar and Nigeria. They are divided into two pools as follows:
Pool A : Zimbabwe, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Kenya C.
Pool B : Tunisia, Namibia, Zambia, Kenya B.
Pool C : Nigeria, Madagascar, Senegal, Uganda.
Core status chasers Zimbabwe headline Pool A with their biggest challengers being a potentially explosive Kenya C side filled with raw talent which will be headed by the Kenyan Super Man Ian ‘Namcos’ Simiyu. The Zimbabweans will use this tournament to prepare for the London sevens, which doubles up as the tournament that will determine whether they will earn core status. So expect the nephews from Uncle Bob’s to put on a great display. Morocco who have brought their edition of the ‘French Legion’, will be looking to disrupt the party for the two I have mentioned, the 12 players that will feature all ply their trade in France.
Tunisia and ‘Kenya B’ lock horns in Pool B, Tunisia who will feature in the world cup in June have the opportunity to gauge themselves before the trip to Russia. The Kenya B side are for me the favourites to lift the cup on Sunday Evening. The versatile Phillip Wamae a main stay of the HSBC circuit this season, leads the ‘Kenya B side.’ Odiero as he is fondly known will be in good company with the likes of Eden Agero, Davis Chenge, Fabian Olando, Oscar Ayodi, Patrice Agunda, Billy Odhaimbo, Felix Ayange, Dan Sikuta and that man Humphrey Kayange all of whom have featured prominently in the world circuit. I have named the whole squad haven’t I? Well they are joined by Sammy Oliech and Robert Aringo, two great young talents. With a spot or two up possibly up for grabs in the squad to Glasgow expect this team to go all out individually and collectively.
The Zambians who will use this tournament to build for the future will probably find the going tough in this pool which also includes 15’s power house Namibia, who are no push overs.
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| Phillip Wamae in Action against Zimbabwe last season (Photo Rugby365) |
Pool C sees neighbours Uganda who have brought a very young and exciting squad this side of the Victoria, the cranes side includes Gabriel Aredo, Chan Onen and Emma Echodu among other talented youngsters. Their biggest challenge should come from Madagascar alongside believe it or not Nigeria, who have a large contingent of players who play in England. The Nigerians have been training in England, that has to count for something.
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| The Nigerian team – (Photo- KRU) |
The teams will be ranked from 1-12 at the end of Day 1 action to determine the top 8 that will proceed to the Main Cup Quarter Finals. Expect high scoring matches on the first day as sides look to accumulate the most points. The Quarter finals will see the side ranked first play the side ranked 8th and so forth. As mentioned earlier ‘Kenya B’ should take this one without as much as breaking a sweat, but that is on paper. In the sea level conditions in Mombasa though it will be a different ball game, with the Cheetahs of Zimbabwe, Kenya C, Tunisia and Uganda all with a realistic shot at the title.
Universities and Mtaa Category
Action will kick off on Friday with the universities and Mtaa category on Friday, the likes of Machine, Blak Blad, Daystar, Catholic University, TUK all featuring competition in this category can not be overlooked. Like in the main competition 12 varsity sides divided into 3 pools of four will be in action from Friday, the pools are:
Pool A: Machine, TUK, MKU, Mombasa II
Pool B: Blad, KCA, Shepherds, Mombasa Poly
Pool C: Catholic University, Daystar, PCEA Uni, Spartan
This will probably be a competition between Machine and Blad depending on the squads they field, this is considering most campuses are in their exam period. Daystar, Catholic University, KCA and Mombasa II will probably be the other top contenders for this one.
The Mtaa category will see 8 teams drawn from the Mombasa area take part, the eight are divided into two pools of four as follows:
Pool A : Tudor, MtoPanga, Changamwe, Nyali
Pool B : Likoni, Bamburi, Makande, Buxton.
Hapa jamani, sijui chochote…but it is good to see the action go down to the grass roots. Basing this on the little experience I have on teams from the coast, it will be one fun category. We will probably get to see rather hear this , “Mbona waja kwa kasi hivi? Ati unataka nikuzuie…aaahh weh nenda unako enda ukifika wasalimu..” Hehehe.
During the two week break, focus shifted on the women’s game, the Kenya lionesses finishing fourth in the reverse edition of this tournament which was won by South Africa. Bitterly losing 12-0 to the Nyabos of Uganda. The Lionesses will however pick a lot of positives from this tournament, as they continue to grow under coach Kevin Wambua.
There was also a local sevens tournament held at the RFUEA on Sunday 21st eventually won by the ladies from Mwamba. More of the same will see the ladies’ game grow tremendously.
Oh before I leave, Kakamega won the National Schools’ title for the third year in a row, they beat St. Mary’s Yala 18-3 at the Mang’u High School. The two now progress to the East Africa games in Uganda and from what I hear the ssebos are already taking cover at the sight of the Katch players..a Kenyan one two as is the norm looks inevitable. The KSSSA should however style up, (I hope none of my former teachers reads this) the state of that Mang’u pitch was a shame, and it affected the quality of the game highly. Probably we would have had a different winner had the games been played on a standard pitch…Nairobi School maybe? hehehe…
With that ladies and gentlemen, enjoy the sand between your feet, the beer and the meat you’ll eat, remember to dance to the beat and enjoy rugby at the beach….(insert gangster pose here)
Finally A happy birthday to the Geezer, Big M, I should get a photo of a lion here…hehe!
KWISHA….Nimeruka Nje!!!!
