Champions Kenya Commercial Bank, Homeboyz, Resolution Impala and Strathmore Leos will field some of their Kenya Sevens players in the semi-finals of the Impala Floodlit on Saturday at Impala Sports Club.
The Kenyan Sevens players who are preparing for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games Africa qualifiers in November, this year did not play in the quarter-finals last Saturday.
KCB, who are chasing their fifth Floodlit title, have Kenya Sevens skipper and flanker Andrew Amonde and utility back Kennedy Moseti at their disposal while their opponents Homeboyz have a rich backline of Oscar Ayodi, Alvin Otieno, Jeff Oluoch, Leonard Mugaisi and Bush Mwale.
“I will use Amonde and Moseti, but off the bench,” said KCB coach Curtis Olago, who has made one change to the team ahead of their titanic clash with Homeboyz.
Olago has brought in James Ochieng in place of flanker Rocky Aguko, who dislocated his shoulder in their 28-0 victory over Mwamba in the quarters. Amonde will come in for Ochieng.
“This is like a friendly where I want to access all the players. Remember I am training close to 80 players and I have to give them a chance at any tournament,” said Olago.
“I want to see which game plan will work and not really how my rivals will play,” he added.
FIFTH TITLE
KCB are eying their fifth diadem after previous success in 2005, 2007, 2013 and 2014.
Homeboyz coach Simon Odongo, who is happy to have pulled through without injuries in their 29-13 demolition of Nondescripts, said he will use all his Kenya Sevens players.
The Menengai Cream soap-sponsored Homeboyz are seeking their maiden Floodlit title.
Resolution Impala coach Fred Ollows is also set to use his Kenyan Sevens backs of Samuel Motari and Robert Aringo. “They should infuse some magic in my backline,” said Ollows, a former Impala and Kenya scrum half.
Duncan Ekasi will be key in Impala’s forwards, using his experience to bring out their best as they look to quell the threat posed by the Leos whose forward play against Nakuru was without fault.
Strathmore coach Mitch Ocholla, who only has Billy Odhiambo in Kenya Sevens said his return will boost his side. The Leos edged out Nakuru 17-9 in the quarters last Saturday.
“Odhiambo has been impressive in training and it will be glad to see him especially having recovered from an injury,” said Ocholla, who is also set to replace lock Michael Gitau, who got injured on Saturday.
“I have no wary because there is a big pool of replacements,” said Ocholla. Leos are in seek of their second title after the 2011 exploits.
University of Nairobi’s Mean Machine have found themselves in unfamiliar Universities category at the Impala Floodlit tournament after failing to secure a top eight finish in Kenya Cup last season for the Club competition.
Machine, who are the most successful team at the Floodlit tournament with nine titles, will face last year’s losing finalists United States International University-Africa the semi-finals on Saturday.
Strathmore will take on Kenyatta University’s Blak Blad in the other semi.
FIXTURES
Schools
Mangu v Ofafa 11.00am
Laiser Hills v MFA 12.15pm
Universities
Strathmore v Blak Blad 1.45pm
USIU v Mean Machine 1.30pm
Clubs
Strathmore Leos v Impala Saracens 5.00pm
KCB v Homeboyz 7.00pm
CREDIT NATION MEDIA
