JKUAT Cougars celebrate during a past match/HANDOUT 

Mwamba Rugby and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) Cougars have qualified for the Kenya Cup.

Mwamba and JKUAT Cougars sealed Kenya Cup slots on Saturday after winning their respective KRU Championship semi-finals. In Juja, JKUAT Cougars thrashed former Kenya Cup side Homeboyz 40-9 while Mwamba overcame the Catholic Monks 41-26 at the Goan Institute.

Mwamba Rugby and JKUAT Cougars will replace Kisumu RFC and Masinde Murilo University of Science and Technology (MMUST), who were relegated to the KRU Championship. JKUAT Cougars will make their debut in the top-tier league while Mwamba returns to Kenya Cup after one season in the KRU Championship.

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The two sides will battle it out for bragging rights in the KRU Championship final on May 2 at RFUEA grounds, Ngong Road. Commenting on the game, JKUAT Cougars coach Smith Muhoya said: “It was a good game, and we played well to get into the Kenya Cup.”

“It started as we had expected with Homeboyz getting off the blocks quickly and putting us under pressure both on territory and possession, and it bore fruit with us going 6-0 down,” said Muhoya.

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He said his boys showed great composure and responded. “We had prepared for this, and the leadership group stood up, and we gradually got ourselves back into the game with our play systems. We were able to go into halftime in the lead and pull away in the second half and secure the vital win,” remarked Muhoya

The tactician said their KRU Championship campaign has been good. “A lot of growth from the boys. Many of them put up their hand and wanted to do this for the club. It's been great watching them and us go from strength to strength each week and produce big game performances, and we hope for the same in the final,” he noted.

Muhoya said there were highs and lows, but the players matured and navigated them well and got themselves to a good place both mentally and physically.