It was heart break for Kenya as they literally came within inches of World cup qualification on Sunday at the Mahamasina Stadium in Madagascar.
Coming into the last round of qualification, the Simbas were perched at the top of the standings on 10 points, four more than second placed Zimbabwe who they faced on Sunday. These two were the favourites for the coveted ticket, Namibia only holding an outside chance on 5 points.
Kenya needed a win to secure qualification or at the worst get a bonus point here and deny Zimbabwe the same. Guy Cronje would kick his first points for the Sables, the fly half would remain a stand out performer for his side through out this match.
Lavin Asego would level things from a penalty as both sides settled into the match. The Sables with a slight upper hand, forcing the Kenyans into some early mistakes. Zimbabwe had more of the ball and managed to defend resolutely when they didn’t have the pill in hand.
Guy Cronje would sink in his second penalty to give his side a 6-3 lead, before a sublime pass from Lavin Asego released Humphrey Kayange to sprint 40 meters and ground the game’s first try. Asego would add the extras for a 10-6 score with 10 minutes to play in the first half.
Zimbabwe would continue to turn the screw and would get their breakthrough, albeit in controversial fashion. They camped inside the Kenya five meter line putting together phases in the forwards with Kenya defending brilliantly.
The would decide to swing the ball wide, Guy Cronje releasing his full back, to run behind a team mate in what looked like an obstruction and ground the ball. After consultation with the AR, they try was awarded, Cronje converting for a 13-10 half time score.
Second half started with the Simbas with their tails up, charging into the Zimbabwe 22. A series of phases would however end in an infringement at the ruck to give the Sables a reprieve. They would pick it up from this point and make forays into Kenya territory.
Hilton Mudariki would go over at the corner for the Sables’ second try of the match, Cronje scuffing his kick to make it 18-10. Kenya would start self imploding from this point, missing their own line outs, their game slowly crumbling.
Guy Cronje would seal what was a beautiful afternoon for him with a try of- his own, which e converted for a 25-10 score with a little over 10 minutes to play. Kenya’s woes would further deepen as they were to finish this match with 14 men after Martin Owilla saw yellow. Cronje would kick the resulting penalty to stretch their lead to 18 points at 28-10.
At this point, Kenya needed a converted try to give themselves a fighting chance, and this message finally hit them in the closing minutes. A series of penalties would see the Simbas camp inside the Zimbabwe 5, piling up phases in the forwards, it went one side then the other, with the phases now into double digits.
It was now or never for the Simbas, as the final hooter went, but as fate would have it and as it had shown throughout this match, it wasn’t meant to be. A rush of blood would see the Kenyans decide to go wide after all the hard work in the forwards, the ball was subsequently knocked on for a 28-10 final score.
There was still hope for the Simbas who now alongside the Sables would get behind the Makis against Namibia. It was however not Kenya’s day as Namibia ran out 89-10 winners to leapfrog the two and claim the ticket to the World cup.
Heart break for Kenya after coming so close to qualification, Zimbabwe proceed to the Repechage where they’ll face Russia and Serbia. In the future CAR should look to play such crucial matches concurrently, you get the feeling Namibia had the upper hand going into their match already knowing what they needed to do.
Kenya slip to 33rd in the World rankings, the position the side held going into the qualifiers. The side however holds better rating points at 51.99, the side can be proud of their exploits in Madagascar, most had not given the side a chance, they caught the attentions of the country and made believers out of us.
With the same structures in the next four years, we will definitely make it to the world cup. A majority of the players in that squad are in their early twenties, lets keep them in the same shape and system.
This side has shown that with more effort we are just as good in the longer version of the game, let’s keep playing in the Vodacom cup and get more quality tests in a year, not Uganda. Keep Jerome on, heck even get him a wife here, strengthen our domestic league and we will be celebrating in four years.
KWISHA….Nimeruka Nje!!
