It is one thing being part of a team and another being a team player. Sounds cliché but the fact lies with stats gathered from yesterday’s match when the Kenya XVs went against Portugal in an International test match. With the weight of over 40 million plus Kenyans on their shoulders, Robert Aringo, Sammy Oliech & Vincent Mose did very little to disappoint. Highly meticulous were they that it is going to be a little difficult for the technical bench to have second thoughts about them.
Vincent Mose – the comeback king
A timeless classic, like a reptile sheds off the old and blends in with the new. Most of those he played with in 2009 & 10 have retired from contact rugby. Mose boasts an impressive track record. His ‘Suguta valley’ exploits are still vivid in an ardent fan’s gallery. His coming to Impala meant a huge plus for the backline. Although he was on and off for a complete season, he had a comeback plan in mind. Like the wise player that he is, realized that he wouldn’t start off on a sprint. Instead of rushing to join the senior squad, he decided to focus on regaining fitness, pace and contact confidence with the second team first. His brilliant calculation got him playing a huge part in the 2014-15 ESS win. Selectors couldn’t turn him down. We eavesdropped on a national team technical bench conversation and are proud to report that he has indeed been an innovative, confident and goal hungry Vice Captain.
Robert Aringo – Youthfully aggressive
For a young man who steered St. Mary’s School to major victories, the Kenya XVs jersey was always going to be his destination. His going on tour with the Tusker Simba XVs in 2014 put him a step ahead of his peers. When head coach Jerome Paarwater played him out of position in South Africa during the Vodacom Cup, Aringo did not resist. He went ahead to carry his scrum half duties with fire power. Although sidelined by injury for the better part of the 2014-15 Kenya Cup season, Aringo has since shed off the pain. His agility and take-off have drastically improved. He wouldn’t miss a tackle and his gain line breaking frequency has increased. Coming from the bench, his undying desire for a permanent inside centre jersey came to life when he broke once, offloaded to Oliech, then collected a pass from Oliech to score the 4th try of the game.
Samuel Oliech – Brute talent
How many times could you just knock on a door expecting it to open? If patience is a virtue, then Oliech could be the yardstick from which to measure against. A skim through social media reveals the fact that most Kenyan rugby fans wish Oliech played for the Sevens team, a side which has for the last 2 and a half years, rejected his services. You cannot take it from the youngster who has been labelled by rugby icon and legend – Dennis Mwanja as the ‘King of High Balls’. His passion for collecting aerial projectiles cannot be matched by any other player in the republic. His line breaking and ability to change direction is bolstering! What we have in Oliech is not only sheer intelligence, but brute talent. He understands when to offload, when to take contact & when to kick for territory. Innocent Simiyu, former Kenya XV & current Impala Saracens fullback will be proud to see how stylish Oliech was when he went over to register a try on his first cap.
