This weekend will see the start of the play of phase in the Nationwide leagues, at least in three of the five regions. Only the Nairobi and Western regions are yet to conclude their league phases.
It had earlier been indicated that third tier sides from Kenya cup teams would not be considered for the play offs but after consultations the sides have been allowed to participate.
The top four sides from the Rift Valley, Central and Coast regions will battle it out in the first round of fixtures. The top two sides from Rift Valley and the winners from Central and Coast then proceed to the National play offs.
Coast Region
After a gruelling 9 weeks, one of the Coast region semi-finals will see the Stormers take on the South Coast Pirates at their Blue Triangle Village in Athi River. The Stormers came out on top of the coast region with a total of 39 points. The South coast pirates finished fourth on 24 points. The Stormers, only in the second full season will be hot favourites to make it to the regional final, seeing as they beat the Pirates 43-3 in the league phase.
The other semi-final will pit Masaku and the Technical University of Mombasa at the Machakos Golf Club. Masaku who are also in their second season finished second on the log with 37 points, with TUM coming in third on 26 points. This will be the first time the two are meeting this season, Masaku having handed TUM a walk over result during the league phase.
Stormers vs South Coast Pirates (3pm, Blue Triangle Village Athi River)
Masaku vs TUM (3pm, Machakos Golf Club)
Central Region
In the Central region, league leaders KEMU come up against Dedan Kimathi University at their Meru grounds. KEMU came out on top of the league phase having accumulated a total of 34 points after 8 matches, Dedan Kimathi on their part came in fourth with 21 points. This will be a closely fought affair if their last meeting is anything to go by, where KEMU edged out the Dedans 10-3.
The other semi-final in this region will see Thika RFC taking on Laikipia at the Thika Sports Club. Thika were runners up in the league phase with 32 points with Laikipia in third, a point behind their opponents this weekend. Another one that promises to have very little between the sides, as the last time these two met, Thika were narrow 13-12 winners.
KEMU vs Dedan Kimathi (3pm, Kemu MERU)
Thika vs Laikipia (3pm, Thika Sports Club)
Rift Valley Region
The Rift Valley region will see one of the third tier teams from the top flight clubs battle it out for a spot in the National play offs. Nakuru III who finished in third spot will battle it out for that spot against the University of Eldoret who came in second. Nakuru III will be looking to overturn a 7-0 defeat they suffered against the UoE in the league phase.
The other semi-final will see league leaders Egerton host Kericho who finished fourth in the regular season. With the two finalists earning spots in the National play offs, these fixtures will be all to play for.
Egerton vs Kericho (3pm, Egerton Njoro)
University Of Eldoret vs Nakuru III (3pm, UOE)
Nairobi & Western Regions
The other two regions, Nairobi and Western continue with their league fixtures with upto 3 rounds to play. The top eight teams from these regions play in their region’s quarter finals which will culminate into the top two sides that will join the rest in the national play offs.
Nairobi region sees leaders Daystar host KCA who are in 9th, second placed Impala III host eighth placed Nazarene at the Impala grounds. Western Region leaders Kabras travel to face Siaya at the Siaya Institute, with second placed Kakamegafacing Bungoma at the Bungoma High school.
Nairobi Region Fixtures
Mt Kenya vs Comras (3pm, Railways)
Impala III vs Nazarene (3pm, Impala)
Brumbies vs Multimedia (3pm, Dandora High)
Mwamba III vs USIU (2 pm)
Daystar vs KCA (3pm, Daystar AthiRiver)
TUK vs Catholic (2pm, UON)
Western Region
Mt Kenya Kakamega vs Kisii (3pm, Kakamega ShowGround)
Siaya vs Kabras (3pm, Siaya Inst)
Homabay vs Masinde Muliro (3pm, Homabay Inst)
Bungoma vs Kakamega (3pm, Bungoma High)
KWISHA…Nimeruka Nje!!!
