Floodlight Tournament: UoN students face Quins in pursue of final slot at Impala floodies

Quins Patrice Agunda(R) chase Roland Osil of Mwamba during Impala Floodlight Rugby Tournament quarter finals at Impala Ground on Saturday 11/10/14. PHOTO.BONIFACE OKENDO

Nairobi: Will this be the year that Mean Machine will bag the elusive 10th title of the Airtel Impala Floodlit tournament?

The University of Nairobi students are in buoyant mood after a dream start last weekend at the Impala grounds where they beat Nondies RFC 11-3 to qualify for the semis.

The last time the students won the title was back in 2011, when they shared it with Strathmore after a stalemate in the final.

According to new coach Paul Okech, the side has been performing well in the season opener in previous years and they are hopeful that this year will be the same.

Despite Impala being the hosts of the tournament, Mean Machine enjoys the biggest fan-base in the tournament by virtue of the tournament’s popularity among university students.
The side will be hoping that their vociferous supporters will be able to spur them on against rugby powerhouse Kenya Harlequin, who qualified for the semi-final after beating Mwamba 30-13 last weekend.

Okech believes they have the capability to overcome Quins given that he is expecting a number of players back into the squad, who were not present last weekend, plus they have gotten a chance to gauge their strengths and weaknesses from last weekend.

Kenya Harlequins has in the past used the Impala Floodlit as a development tool and have thus just won 3 titles in the 34 years of the tournament.

Quins have been known to ignore the tournament in different years to prepare on their own, with the side having been crowned champions last in 1998.

This year was to be no different as Quins was to travel to South Africa for a tour but cancelled it after a visa hitch for some players.

The side therefore focused their intentions on the Impala Floodlit and the team fielded by the former Kenya Cup champions last weekend, signals their intentions this season, with head coach Enos Otieno playing a full strength squad that may just be a handful for the youthful and gallant Mean Machine.

Mean Machine will need more than luck to go past the disciplined and structured side that overcame Mwamba in the quarter-finals.

But should they beat Quins, they will be in an upbeat mood as they meet the winner between KCB and Nakuru in the other semi of the tournament.

League and cup champions Nakuru on the other hand reached the semis with a comfortable 30-8 win over Homeboyz, barely getting out of first gear in this fixture.

They have in the recent past had KCB’s number and will be to continue their recent dominance over the bankers on Saturday night.

Head Coach Dominique Habimana has elected to blend youth and experience and will call upon the likes of Mike Okombe, Allan Odiyo, Kelvin Omiyo and David Kivuti who was impressive against Homeboyz.

The Wanyore come into this fixture minus Coleman Were who was sent off last weekend.

Mean Machine bagged nine titles, Impala (6), Mwamba, Quins, Nondies, KCB (3) and Strathmore  (1).