- KCB beat Nakuru 24-10 with Isaac Njoroge’s brace
- KCB fielded mostly their second-string side
- The victory is a consolation for their Kenya Cup loss
KCB RFC humbled Nakuru RFC 24-10 to clinch the 2023 Great Rift Rugby 10-aside tournament in a pulsating final at the Nakuru Athletics Club.
Isaac Njoroge’s brace, Festus Shiasi and Emmanuel Opondo’s tries were enough to seal the win for the Andrew Amonde-led side.
Njoroge who was instrumental in inspiring KCB to glory in the competition was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 30th edition of the Great Rift Rugby 10-aside tournament.
Varsity side Blak Blad of Kenyatta University finished 3rd having cruised 17-10 past their counterparts University of Nairobi (Mean Machine) in a 3rd place playoff match.
Speaking after guiding his team to glory in his first assignment as a coach, former Shujaa Captain Andrew Amonde said: “This is an unbelievable fete for us as a team. We came here with an objective to win the competition and everyone in the team has played his part. We are happy for the win; we will celebrate for now before we start preparations for the National Sevens Circuit which is just around the corner.”
Happy with involvement of rookies
Action between KCB and Nakuru
Amonde quipped that the involvement of rookies Brian Munyali, Fidel Maina, and Gabriel Namusasi together with experienced players Martin Owilah, Isaac Njoroge, Geoffrey Okwach among others was a masterstroke to ensure that the bankers claimed victory.
“The young players who were given an opportunity to showcase their skills in this tournament have rightfully done so. I am proud of them, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for this team. The leadership of captain Martin Owilah was also important for us because the team remained solid throughout the competition,” added Amonde.
Martin Owillah, who skippered the team, said they were delighted with the performance and also praised the way the young players lifted themselves to the occasion.
“We really did well as a team and the new players who came in have gathered a lot of experience. They raised their hands and showed they can be considered into the first team. It was also good for them to come to such a competitive outing and I am glad we ended up with a win,” Owillah noted.
Consolation for Kenya Cup loss
Action between KCB and Nakuru
The bankers earned the Great Rift title as a consolation, having lost in the final of both the Kenya Cup and the Enterprise Cup to arch rivals Kabras Sugar. The team now will look to restrategize and attempt to get their groove back in the 15s version of the game.
KCB will shift focus to the upcoming National Sevens Circuit that is set to kick off on June 24th in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.
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