By Mike Kwambo. ( @michaelkwambo )
“Tunaomba serikali”. This is a common refrain by aggrieved citizens whenever their plight gets highlighted in the media. As I observe the on goings in the 2013 Prescott Cup, and as I embrace typical Kenyan English and infuse a bit of Swahili which dictates my next sentence after the comma>>>, >>>I have no otherwise but to omba the serikalis of Nairobi School, Saint Mary’s and Lenana to ingilia kati and remedy the situation. Please note that I am not an alumni of these three great bastions of school rugby,my alma matter being Government African School Kakamega. I am just a concerned citizen. Concerned that schools that we looked up to while we were in our Western Kenya backyard, aspiring to play like these guys and be as great as players from these great schools.
Back to matters Prescott Cup 2013, I have been expressing a silent yawa! every time I get wind of the results.The biggest yawa came when I saw a 38-0 score line in favor of Ofafa* against Saints somewhere. The dominant names are struggling, this sounds harsh but from an observer’s perspective, they’ve seemingly have lost interest in the tournament. I say this while not turning a blind eye to the fact that the game has grown in leaps and bounds, we cannot dispute that fact…it’s just that the decline in Patch, Saint’s and Changes greatness…wameachilia virahisi sana…eish…that bothers me, particularly when you consider that the many of the people I played with…many of those who influenced and inspired my rugby were from these great schools.
I looked at the Prescott Cup log today and mayne! Saints are bottom of Pool A having completed their preliminary round fixtures…In Kenyan rugby lingo….”semis dash” , “wako outside”…I’m sure this development should draw a ” tunaumia sisi mashabiki na siyo wachezaji” response from their stellar alumni many of whom have played for the various Kenyan national sides, have been captains, coaches and chairmen yada…yada…yada…
As of today, Friday 7 June 2013, Nairobi School have not played a single Prescott Cup match and yet the semis are slated to take place on Saturday 22 June. They should have been winding up their Pool B fixtures and bracing for the knock outs. A closer look at the log reveals they’ve have on three occasions had their fixtures postponed….that’s three fixtures in a row…I could role play and be the reporter who interviewed the Tanzanian fan…here goes…”Nini haswa kikwazo kinachofanya mechi zenu zihairishwe?” To which the equally stellar Patch alumni should respond…” Wewe unaona ni halali mechi zetu kuahirishwa hobela hobela? Mechi tatu mfululizo? jamaneni…ni halali? kuna usawa? Tumejenga jina kama mababe wa ragga…siyo raggamuffin lakini ragga…mpira wa mabavu…lakini siku hizi haitiliwi maanani…” As I push further, the Patch alumni will add, “Mbona twakubali mechi zetu zihairishwe na wengine wacheza? mbona? At this point of reflection,Daddy Owen’s “Mbona” starts playing….
Lenana School’s predicament is slightly better…they could miss out on Semifinal qualification if they don’t win their remaining two matches against Patch and RVA…times have surely changed…from them being hostage takers to being held hostage…yes…held hostage by others results…there was a time when progress to the knock out stages was non-negotiable…it was expected…
So, what could be the matter? Forget the “game is growing” tagline for a minute…what could be the matter? I mean…as the game grows, as you become aware of your competition..it’s only logical that you step up…that you aim to remain at that lofty perch…Is the rugby culture dying at these great institutions? Why is it dying? Much as the game has spread its wings, shouldn’t institutional memory, pride and illustrious alumni serve as a motivating factor for Patch, Saints and Changes to remain relevant in the game?
Over to you alumni…repeat after me…”Tunaomba Serikali iingilie kati….” The relevant serikalis’ need to alleviate the suffering of the old boys. They need to kill the loud whispers of “ni sisi ma-old boys tunaumia ” or headlines such as ” NO LONGER SAINTS: CHANGES IN PRESCOTT AS BIG THREE ENDURE ENDLESS ROUGH PATCH” or “MUHURI* STAMP AUTHORITY OVER (PATCH/SAINTS/CHANGES) …..” will be begin popping up all over social and mainstream media.
(*No offence to Ofafa and Muhuri…their growth and strides in the game are very commendable, top stuff I must say)
