A leaked post match team talk of Homeboyz RFC coach, Paul Murunga went viral last week, in the wake of Resolution Impala Saracens 45-7 hammering of Homeboyz RFC. In it, Murunga, identifies what he considers the two Impala players worth note – fly half Nato Simiyu and fullback Sammy Oliech. This comment would serve as one of the big motivators for the other Gazelles ahead of the neighbours’ derby.
Still, the St. Mary’s alumnus Oliech found enough in the tank to tip everyone else to the Man of the Match tape, after two weekends of tailing Simiyu but only just! The easy going Oliech is in good company with many members of his almer mater in the Saracens affiliate – centres Anthony Nyandigisi, the eldest, peer Robert Aringo, younger Koome Anampiu and another peer, winger Pius Shiundu.
Saturday, his full array of skills were on show – one obvious one being aerial. In one movement, his opposite number, Kevin Keegan, kicked a high ball down his throat. His sheer leap for the ball was a study in itself. His eyes never left the ball for a clean catch. When his feet were chopped off, under him in a clear foul, he would land awkwardly but still offload the ball to Shiundu who then shipped the ball to Nyandigisi to score. He would then walk up to give a sweet strike conversion of the try.
Some three months ago, he was at the Saracens Academy, as part of the Global Saracens Network. His coaches noted “his great ability to beat a defender one-on-one through strength and footwork’ and that “defensively, he has a great chop tackle technique that effectively brings the attacker to the ground” The improvement in his kicking percentages Saturday four from six kicks may please his academy coaches. Offloading seems to be entering his game and it was a ‘to work on’.
In all, his 13 points last weekend epitomised his and his teammates desire to take the game to Harlequins. None demonstrated this more than his appearance from a close quarters exchange – and what was he doing there? – to score his try to signal the end of the Ngong Road contest… A good start of a season for an athlete “who occasionally covers for Batman when he is indisposed”
