Lock Rainer Omondi, flanker – Elvis Oroko & scrum-half – Samson Onsomu will start this weekend when Resolution Impala Saracens play to defend the Samson ‘Chums’ Odhiambo memorial trophy. Omondi will start in Shem Angugo’s place. Outgoing club captain – Duncan Ekasi is unavailable for rugby this weekend. His absence creates opportunity for a very youthful Elvis Oroko to be included in the starting XV. Oroko will play in his natural open-side flank position. Steve Shammah, who played in this position last weekend against Homeboyz starts in Ekasi’s natural position – 8th man. Harritone Munai stays at blind-side flank. This back row combination signals the climax of a working academy system that has always been sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank.
Xavier Bett, who started in all of Impala’s Floodlit duels and the past 3 Kenya Cup matches starts from the bench this weekend. Donning the number 9 jersey is incoming club captain – Samson Onsomu. The remainder of the backline remains unchanged.
Resolution Impala Saracens currently sit 5th with 10 points. Nondies are 7th with 5. While Impala lost 21-39 to Homeboyz, Nondies beat Mombasa 64-5. Will this weekend mean a rise on the table for Impala or Nondies?
Resolution Impala Saracens Backs Coach – Oscar Osir:
This fixture is important in terms of returning to winning ways. It is also important to us because we want to rake in points before breaking for the holidays. We lost last week and moved from position 1 to 5 on the Kenya Cup log. As you can see, one loss can make a huge difference.
Resolution Impala Saracens Director Of Rugby – Mr. Fred Ollows
There is a trophy & an award at stake. For us, the Chum Reru trophy & the Ogeto Award are very important. Samson Odhiambo was one of our fondly beloved players who went to Nondies. We kept very good contact even after he went to Nondies. He is a legend here & whenever we play Nondies in an XV game, we want to retain that trophy – the Chum Reru Trophy. Ogeto Gecheo was one of our most promising players. 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. The Ogeto award is another piece of silverware we definitely want to keep
Resolution Impala Saracens Gazelles mach day 23 vs Nondies.
1. James Kubasu
2. Daniel Ndome
3. Dennis Karani
4. Davis Makori
5. Rainer Omondi
6. Harriton Munai
7. Elvis Oroko
8. Steve Shammah
9. Sam Onsomu
10. Anthony Nyandigisi
11. Derrick Mayar
12. Samuel Motari
13. Billy Omondi
14. Timothy Makiya
15. Vincent Mose
16. Edgar Obino
17. Kelvins Ronnoh
18. Stephen Ayora
19. Tyson Okoth
20. Xavier Bett
21. Robin Kiplangat
22. Leon Adongo
23. Joshua Momanyi
Date: 16th December 2017
Venue: Impala Club
Gate: 300/-
