Action between Cardinal Otunga and Butula Boys during the rugby 7s national final/ANGWENYI GICHANACardinal Otunga High School, Mosocho and Friends School, Bokoli will be out for revenge when the Federation of East Africa Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) Games rugby sevens competition gets underway in Morogoro, Tanzania, on Thursday.
The two Kenyan schools were denied the national title by Butula Boys Senior School at the KCB Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association championships in Thika last week and will now get another chance to settle the score on the regional stage.
Butula crushed Cardinal Otunga 26-0 in the final, while Bokoli suffered a narrow 14-12 defeat to the eventual champions in the semi-finals before recovering to beat Upper Hill 26-15 and claim bronze.
Bokoli coach Eliud Okwemba believes his side has what it takes to go all the way in Tanzania after the painful semi-final defeat. “During the semi-finals, Butula came from 12-0 down to beat us 14-12 due to a yellow card and a few lapses here and there. We went to Thika for the gold, but we ended up with a bronze medal. We are happy we qualified for FEASSA, which was our main target,” said Okwemba.
“We are going for nothing but the ultimate prize — the gold medal. As coach, I have been to FEASSA, and I know what is expected.”
Okwemba knows what it takes to win the regional title, having guided Koyonzo Secondary to FEASSA glory in Huye, Rwanda, in 2023. The tournament will be played on a round-robin basis, with the Kenyan trio facing Uganda’s Mbarara High, Makerere College School and Busoga College Mwiri, as well as Tanzania’s Elerai.
Cardinal Otunga coach Edwin Metobo is also confident of a strong showing after welcoming back three players who missed the national final against Butula.
Yobesh Angima, Charles Njoroge and Joshua Moturi have returned to training, strengthening a squad that will be making its first appearance in the national final and FEASSA.
“We have overachieved. We have never played in the national final. Qualifying for FEASSA is a bonus. However, the boys are ready to compete in Morogoro and give a positive result,” said Metobo.
“We are not under pressure at all.” Butula, meanwhile, will be looking to carry their dominant national form into the regional competition and secure another title for Western Kenya. Coach Bonfontra Alumasa expects the Kenyan rivalry to intensify in Tanzania, with Otunga and Bokoli eager to avenge their defeats.
“Bokoli and Cardinal Otunga will be out to avenge against us. However, as Butula, we are ready to pick up from where we left off at the nationals,” said Alumasa. “We want the FEASSA trophy to return to Western Kenya and Busia County.”
East Africa champions St Peter’s Mumias will not defend their title after being eliminated during the Western region championships. Butula’s preparations have nevertheless been complicated by injuries to two players who picked up knocks during the national championships.
“The medical team is working round the clock to ensure that they are ready for the games,” said Alumasa, who is also an experienced rugby referee.
