NAIROBI, Sunday January 26, 2014
Impala Saracens Bucks Continue Challenging For Nationwide Playoffs
Impala Saracens Bucks, the Impala Saracens academy side, kept up the pressure for a playoff position in the Nationwide (Nairobi) league Saturday. They had a 31-0 bonus point win against COMRAS over the weekend to increase their points tally to 41. Two teams from the Nairobi league will qualify for the quarterfinals in the knockout phase.
Reports that the Impala Saracens Bucks, and Nakuru III, will not be eligible for the playoff matches have raised hackles at Impala Saracens. The club chairman, Oduor Gangla says “If we qualify for the playoffs, we must play. The game has had very few problems when it retains a merit orientation. In sport, the fittest survive. Let’s not confuse matters. Let our young players who’ve worked hard season see where their efforts can take them.
“If the Nationwide sides are unable to beat the academy sides of the Kenya Cup teams, they will face a torrid time in the Kenya Cup itself on promotion. There is precedent. When we used Eric Shirley Shield as the Kenya Cup promotion avenue, there simply would be no teams promoted, if a Kenya Cup league’s 2nd side won the ESS. In any case, it is rather late to talk on a matter that should have been raised beginning of season”
The Bucks side has had a stellar campaign having won seven of its eight matches. Most of its players are fresh from school. It is the playing arm of the Stanchart Impala Academy run by IRB trainer Erick Situma, who is the 2013 Kenya Cup championship coach of Top Fry Nakuru RFC. Situma says, “The playing arm of the academy is absolutely critical if we’re to go beyond theory. Nothing teaches about the game more than actual competition”
Nakuru III lies second in the Nationwide (Rift Valley) League. They follow University of Eldoret and could also qualify for the league playoff. The playoffs will feature two teams from its Nairobi, Western and Rift Valley sectors, as well as the winner of the Coast and Central ones. Mwamba III completes the list of third sides from Kenya Cup outfits, in a move that greatly expands playing space.
“We’re chasing the playoff place with everything,” said Chris Majale, the Bucks coach.
