South Coast Pirates coach Tony Khadambi says Saturday’s game against log leaders Mwamba RFC is their biggest game of the KRU Championship regular season.
The game pitting log leaders Mwamba and second-placed South Coast Pirates is the highlight of the last weekend of the regular season.
Two points separate the two teams that were relegated from the Kenya Cup last season. Mwamba lead the log with 40 points, followed by the South Coast Pirates two points behind.
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) Cougars are third with 34 points, but the students have played one game less than the top two teams. The three teams are in the race for a home semi-final.
Khadambi said: “It is a big game with a home semi-final slot on the line. We are not changing who we are because of it. The systems and discipline that got us here are what we will rely on.”
“We respect Mwamba, but we are focused on executing our plan and taking the opportunity in front of us. No extra pressure on the boys, but we just trust in our work and belief in ourselves,” remarked Khadambi ahead of the game planned for the Goan Institute in Nairobi.
JKUAT Cougars will intensify their hunt for a home semi-final slot when they battle United States International University – Africa’s (USIU-A) Martials in a Thika Road Derby.
Coach Smith Muhoya expects a tough duel against the relegation-threatened USIU-A Martials. “They will throw everything at us. We must be mentally ready. Coming from the loss against Kisii, and with the team still hurting from that. We shall seek to make amends,” he said.
He added: “We expect a huge challenge at the scrums from their forwards and also at the carry on open play. We therefore need to come to the party at scrum time and also shore up our defence.”
He said his side is fitter and tactically astute. “We need the points to solidify that home semi-final slot, and that’s what we are going for in this game,” noted Muhoya.
Fourth placed the Catholic University of East Africa (CUEA) Catholic Monks travel to Kisii for an encounter against Kisii Rugby at Cardinal Otunga High School, Mosocho. Kisii Rugby is unbeaten at home this season.
National Youth Service (NYS) Spades hosts the University of Nairobi’s Mean Machine at the NYS Headquarters, while Mombasa RFC hosts Homeboyz RFC at Mombasa Sports Club.
In the relegation dogfight, bottom of the table Western Bulls welcome 11th placed Zetech University Oaks at the Bull Ring in Kakamega.
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