The 30 man Tusker Simba XV squad that will take part in this year’s Vodacom Cup was unveiled earlier today.
The list of 30 features six débutantes, locks Martin Owilla of Top Fry Nakuru, Emmanuel Mavala of Homeboyz and Edward Oseko of Quins, centre Austine Gumo from Homeboyz. With Davis Chenge of Western Bulls and Robert Aringo of Impala rounding up the new comers list.
It is a strong group with the technical bench managing to keep most from the side that won the CAR cup last year. Most of these players have worked together for close to two years now and will know each other perfectly.
The side will be without the services of Sammy Warui, Ronnie Mwenesi, Edwins Makori and Kwame Owuor who are tied up with work commitments. Some interesting transformations in the 30 with Max Adaka a regular backrow playing at hooker and Robert Aringo also a back row playing at half back.
It will be a tough eight weeks for the side that will be based in Cape town as they battle their way through the Southern Conference. The conference contains two of last year’s semi finalists in the EP Kings and Western Province. The other teams in the conference are the Boland Cavaliers, Border Bulldogs, Free State XV, Sharks XV and the SWD Eagles.
Theoretically the Southern conference is the weaker of the two leagues, with the Nothern one holding the likes of the Blue Bulls, last year’s winners the Golden Lions and losing finalists the Pumas.
We open our campaign against the EP Kings who finished third last year, then host the SWD Eagles who were sixth. Then travel to the first of our two away fixtures against the Border Bulldogs who finished seventh. If we are to sneak in a win here then it will probably be against this Bulldogs side or the Boland Kavaliers who finished bottom of the pile last year with only a single win to their names.
These games are going to come at us thick and fast, we’ll probably be on the wrong side of some big scores but the biggest thing here is to learn as much as we can heading into the World Cup qualifiers. I don’t know about you but I am super excited about the prospect of the fifteens side playing at this level.
Most players from Namibia and Zimbabwe experience this level of competition week in week out, we will be making a big step in closing the gap between us with the qualifiers around the corner.
The squad in full :
Joseph Kang’ethe (Nondescripts RFC), James Kang’ethe (Nondescripts RFC), Curtis Lilako (KCB), Musa Amusala (KCB), Duncan Mwangi (Resolution Impala Saracens), Max Adaka (KCB), Edward Oseko (Lunch Bar Quins), Emmanuel Mavala (Homeboyz RFC), Tony Mutai (Lunch Bar Quins), Oliver Mang’eni (KCB), Wilson Kopondo (Lunch Bar Quins), Davis Chenge (Western Bulls), Mike Okombe (Top Fry Nakuru), Brian Nyikuli (Strathmore Leos), Martin Owila (Top Fry Nakuru), Joshua Chisanga (Homeboyz RFC), Lyle Asiligwa (Lunch Bar Quins), Edwin Achayo (Lunch Bar Quins), Robert Aringo (Resolution Impala Saracens), Eden Agero (Lunch Bar Quins), Kenny Andola (Strathmore Leos), Isaac Adimo (Lunch Bar Quins), Austine Gumo (Homeboyz RFC), Nick Baraza (Lunch Bar Quins), Fabian Olando (KCB), Leonard Mugaisi (Homeboyz RFC), Darwin Mukidza (KCB), Dennis Muhanji (Lunch Bar Quins), Cyprian Kuto (Strathmore Leos), Tony Onyango (Strathmore Leos).
MANAGEMENT: Jerome Paarwater – Kenya XVs High Performance Consultant, Paul Murunga – Assistant Coach, Mitchell Ocholla – Assistant Coach, Richard Ochieng – Strength & Conditioning Coach, Christopher Makachia – Physiotherapist, Wangila Simiyu – Team Manager.
And the fixtures :
8 March: Tusker Simba XV v EP Kings – Cape Town
15 March: Tusker Simba XV v South Western Districts – Cape Town
22 March: Border vs Tusker Simba XV – East London
29 March: Tusker Simba XV v Boland – Cape Town
5 April: Western Province v Tusker Simba XV – Cape Town
12 April: Sharks v Tusker Simba XV – Cape Town
26 April: Free State v Tusker Simba XV – Bloemfontein
KWISHA….Nimeruka Nje!!