Kenya Cup: Why Nondies can't afford to smile just yet
Rugby
By
Washington Onyango
| Dec 12, 2023
The 2023-2024 Kenya Cup season entered week two over the weekend, and it's already proving to be a rollercoaster ride with record champions Nondescripts facing a challenging start in the top-flight league.
Fresh from gaining promotion after playing in the second-tier Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) Championship last season, Nondies, the most successful club with 17 Kenya Cup titles, finds itself struggling to keep up with the pace.
The 2022 relegation marked a historic low for Nondies, the first time in the club's history since its formation in 1923.
The club, boasting most titles and winning the inaugural edition in 1975, had to regroup in the Championship.
Their dominance in the second-tier competition set them apart, ultimately securing their return to the Kenya Cup with much optimism.
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
However, reality struck hard on December 2 when KCB handed Nondies a resounding 45-8 defeat during the season opener.
Last Saturday, defending champions Kabras Sugar added to Nondies' woes, reducing them to amateurs with a comprehensive 40-0 victory.
The slow start raises questions about Nondies' ability to rise to the occasion or face the risk of another relegation.
Despite Nondies' struggles, other teams showcased stellar performances on matchday two. KCB Rugby Club demonstrated their prowess by thrashing Catholic Monks 79-19, making a strong statement early in the season.
Kenya Harlequin wasn't far behind, securing an impressive 52-0 victory against Homeboyz. Menengai Oilers also made a statement with a dominant 67-0 win over Mwamba.
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Nondies to see if they can bounce back from their slow start.