Match Day Four of the 2017 – 2018 Kenya Cup season is set to reignite one of the oldest rivalries in the country. Nondescripts R.F.C. faces Resolution Impala Saracens in the last tie of the year before the Christmas break.
Resolution Impala Saracens look to get back to winning ways after their first loss in Match Day Three, to Menengai Cream Homeboyz: A match that ended 21-39. Nondescripts R.F.C is buoyed by an emphatic first win of the season on the same day over Mombasa Sports Club. This match ended 64-5.
Rivalries and standings aside, Impala Saracens are fifth with 10 points while Nondescripts R.F.C is in seventh place with five points, the two clubs share a rich history, albeit partly with a sad twist.
The two clubs have had the honour of sharing some of the most talented players in Kenya. None is more notable than the late Samson Odhiambo who played at open-side flanker between 1995 and 2002.
Nicknamed “Chum Reru” (chuma ya reli), Odhiambo joined Impala at 18 years of age from Nairobi Milimani Secondary School. He featured for the side for six years winning a host of accolades including the Impala Floodlit, Kenya and Enterprise Cup triples in 2000 and 2001.
In the 2002 season, he turned out for Nondescripts R.F.C and helped the side break a 19-year Impala Floodlit tournament drought. He also won several man-of the match mentions.
He featured in an Enterprise Cup quarterfinal match against KCB in which he sustained a head injury. He later succumbed to it.
Odhiambo passed on at the age of 25 dealing a blow to both clubs and country as a rising star bound to feature for the national team.
To date, his exploits on the field are fondly remembered by many players. Some were unfortunate to be at the end of his bruising tackles. Others shared in the glory of his ball-carrying ability.
In honour of him, the two teams play for the Samson Odhiambo Memorial Cup, also referred to as the “Chum’ Reru” or “Chums” Cup, in each match since his passing.
Separately, it has been just over a year since death robbed the two clubs of yet another promising player – Ogeto Gecheo. Gecheo also succumbed to an injury sustained playing the sport he loved against the Strathmore Leos in a Kenya Cup fixture.
OG as he was commonly known died on December 6, 2016 after undergoing neck surgery, three days after the tie.
OG, the younger brother to current Nondescripts R.F.C chairman, Auka Gecheo, was the captain of the Impala Saracens development side prior to joining Nondies.
He is remembered for his leadership, hard work and dedication to both teams.
In light of the foregoing, we announce the Ogeto Gecheo Memorial Award. This will be played for and awarded to the most promising young player of the day, and henceforth, on any match day between the clubs.
The two trophies will aim to keep the memory of the two relatively young players alive. They will further cement the ties between the clubs as a show of unity despite the adversities.
