Simba face Western Province challenge: 15s national team seeks to redeem its image against SA top-flight club

By BS MULAVI

There will be no reprieve for the Tusker Simbas as they prepare for their fifth match in the Vodacom Cup in South Africa.

The Simbas are due to face Western Province and after three consecutive defeats, things are not looking up for the national side who are facing myriad challenges in South Africa.

Speaking to our sister publication, Game Yetu, before the game, head coach Jerome Parwaater played down the challenges the team is facing and insisted the side was making some headway.

“We are definitely going to miss the services of Wilson Kopondo, but we still have a full strength squad who are well capable of putting on a good performance,” he said.

Kopondo was forced to return to Nairobi due to work commitments and pressure has been steadily rising in the camps as various players also need to get back to Nairobi to meet various obligations after being in South Africa for five weeks.

Not only are Kenya missing the services of their inspirational captain, but they are now left with three matches against the three top teams in the standings.

“Undoubtedly Western Province are a very good team and I think this will be our hardest match yet in the tournament,” Parwaater revealed.

“We will, however, soldier on with the squad we have and I am confident in the abilities of the team,” he said.

The Tusker Simbas are currently ranked sixth in the eight-team league and should they produce a victory over the weekend, they can easily sneak into the top half of the table.

The team is expected to be in South Africa for two more weeks before they head back to Kenya after seven gruelling weeks of rugby.

 Parwaater will have to produce some inspirational plays from the team if they are to salvage their trip and return with something tangible.

The technical bench remains adamant that the experience gained from the tournament despite any wins or losses will be pivotal in deciding whether the side will qualify for the World Cup due in 2015 in England.