Maseno seek to end five-year national absence by dethroning Nyanza champs St Mary's Yala

Maseno School scrum half Winston Ngulu (center) sprints with the ball during their match against Nyabondo.[Washington Onyango,Standard]

For the past five years, Kisumu County rugby Sevens champions Maseno School have watched from the sidelines as St Mary’s School Yala, Agoro Sare and Chianda High School play at the national arena.

Despite bulldozing teams at the county level, the rugby giants have failed to replicate the same form when they reach the regional levels, but this time round Maseno coach Steve Oluoch is keen to end the poor run when the Nyanza Region Secondary School games kick off next week.

Oluoch, who guided his side to a massive 28-0 victory over Nyabondo last month as Maseno continued their decade-long dominance in rugby at Kisumu County games said they want to dethrone regional champions St Mary’s School Yala.

Speaking to Standard Sports, Oluoch said they believe time has now come for change at the regionals after missing out in 2019 and last year.

Oluoch said they have worked on their set-pieces, speed and ball handling aspect of their game which has been a problem for the past years.

Maseno School rugby coach Steve Oluoch.[Washington Onyango,Standard]

“Last year in Homa Bay we finished third after struggling with the basics of rugby like ball-handling and set pieces which we perfected this year in our run-up to winning the county finals," said the English teacher.

“We have played a lot of friendlies with established local teams and welcomed other ideas from external coaches and trainers which I believe would improve the boys’ style of play next week. We want to go back to the nationals and it starts by winning the regionals.”

The last time Maseno played at the national level was in 2018 while they missed out in 2019 when Agoro Sare and Chianda proceeded. Last year, they finished third as St Mary’s Yala qualified.

In the Nyanza games, which will be co-hosted by Maranda School and Nyamira Girls High School from next week Tuesday, Maseno will headline Group C which also has Gekano and Kanga.

Glenn Elber (center) of St Mary's Yala leads his teammates during warm up.[Washington Onyango,Standard]

Defending champions Yala are in Group A alongside Nyabondo and Cardinal Otunga from Kisii as county champions. Kisii School who are also the Nyanza regional rugby 15s champions headline Group B alongside Ambira and Homa Bay High School.

Yala head coach Kenneth Mukok welcomed the challenge from Maseno School saying they are not afraid of anyone since their structures have been in place since last year.

In fact, Mukok, who also teaches English and Literature, said they are a better team than last year after they had serious investment in rugby.

“This year has seen a tremendous growth in the conditioning of our rugby players since the school administration improved on our training facilities. We have new sets of gym equipment’s and other training facilities that the boys have utilized fully to get fit."

“Ahead of the finals next week, we do not fear anyone because St Mary’s Yala is confident or retaining its title,” said Mukok.

Agoro Sare, Anjego from Migori County and Enkinda are in Group D.