Maseno seek to end five-year national absence by dethroning Nyanza champs St Mary's Yala
Rugby
By
Washington Onyango
| Jul 13, 2023
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.
READ MORE
Senegal launches inquiry into Boeing jet runway crash
vivo ushers in a new era of portrait photography with the slim and premium-designed V30
Kuppet, TSC agree on promotion of 30,000 teachers
vivo V30 5G launching in Kenya: Step into the future with style
Inside Ruto's Sh16 trillion last-ditch plan to save Vision 2030
We have hit some good Vision 2030 milestones but missed key targets
Nissan X-Trail T30 an overhyped venerable SUV?
MPs accuse anti-graft body, DPP of collusion in Kemsa scandal probe
“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.
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.