Kenya 15's Rugby Team Ready for Morocco Tour

The Kenya Rugby 15’s team that leaves on Sunday to participate in the Confederation of Africa Rugby (CAR) Cup tournament in Morocco has made a pledge not to disappoint their fans in the 5-day competition.

While announcing the final 24-man team for the Morocco Tour, Head Coach Michael ‘Tank’ Otieno conceded that the CAR Cup tournament will present a great challenge for the national 15’s side to emulate the success of the 7’s and the under 20’s teams. However, he said that his team is not under any pressure following the great accomplishment of the 7’s team. “The development of the 7’s rugby directly translates to gains for the 15’s rugby and vice versa. The two units compliment one another” he said.

Four teams will be competing in the tournament that runs from 7th to 12th July 2009 in Casablanca with Kenya pitted against Senegal in their first match on 8th July. If Kenya comes through the match, then they will clash with the winner between hosts Morocco and Cameroon in the final on Saturday 11th July with a place in the World Cup at stake.

Notably, the names of four key players, Collins Injera, Humphery Khayange, Biko Adema and Lavin Asego were missing in the final team list. The four players were all part of the core 7’s team that participated in the just concluded IRB Sevens Circuit. In their places four new players have been drafted by coach Tank.

During a press briefing held yesterday morning at Nairobi’s RFUEA Grounds – Ngong Road, Telkom Kenya Commercial Communication Manager Josephine Gathithi presented each member of the squad with a send-off gift hamper that comprised among others goodies cellphones and pre-paid Orange lines.

Ms. Gathithi re-emphasized the company’s commitment and support to the sport. “Telkom Kenya is passionate about Kenyan sport and as such we are also part and parcel of the process of making great sportsmen and women in this country. Our continued involvement in Rugby demonstrates our commitment towards being partners in the players’ success and building a bond between us and other fans of rugby” she said.

Orange, the key brand of France Telecom is the national 15’s team official sponsor. The company also recently sponsored the World Cup and the international tour by the Kenya National Rugby Sevens team, with a commitment for more support in the next season.

Also present at the ceremony were KRFU Secretary General, Frank Sibwa, Director in charge of the 15’s team Branko Ng’inja and the Team Manager Leonard Wangila. Mr. Wangila acknowledged the great moral and financial support that the team is currently benefiting from the Orange sponsorship saying that it’s the source motivation for the team. The team manager added that the Morocco tournament isn’t a ‘tour’ but rather a challenging task for his charges.

“We were greatly humbled by the CRS activity that we partook last Sunday in Turkana. In Morocco, we shall be playing for those little kids in Turkana who could still afford smiling under very harsh environmental circumstances” he said.

While admitting that the team has a poor away record, Head coach Michael ‘Tank’ Otieno reiterated that the team was fully focused and up to the task ahead. “We will not underrate our first opponents Senegal. We shall play the match like a final match” he said.

Mr. Wangila added that plans to acquire a mobile gym from South Africa’s Sports Science Institute for both the 15’s and the 7’s national teams were still in progress. The facility is expected to be fully fabricated in 7-8 weeks from now.

CAR, which was launched in 1986 in Tunis, is the governing body for rugby union within Africa and is responsible for running various tournaments in the continent. Presently the body has a 36-country membership Kenya included.

The team will hold two last training sessions today at 5pm (local time) and on Saturday from 10am to noon at the RFUEA Grounds ahead of their departure for Casablanca via Doha on Sunday aboard a Qatar Airline flight. The team leaves the Moroccan capital on Sunday 13th July to arrive back home the following day.

The team:

1. Daniel Kiptoo - Kenya Harlequins
2. Vincent Ongera - Kenya Harlequins
3. Edwin Alubaka - KCB
4. Michael Aung - Nondies (Vice captain)
5. Andrew Amonde - KCB
6. Gary Cullen - Nondies
7. Anthony Ogot - KCB
8. Wilson Kopondo - Mean Machine
9. Charles Kanyi - Nondies
10. Naftali Bondo - Kenya Harlequins
11. Paul Oimbo - Impala
12. Innocent Simiyu - Impala (Captain)
13. Vincent Mose - Impala
14. Leon Adongo - Kenya Harlequins
15. Linus Simiyu - Impala
16. Joel Nganga - Kenya Harlequins
17. Patrick Agunda - Kenya Harlequins
18. Benedict Nyambu - Nondies
19. Gibson Weru - Nakuru
20. Lawrence Buyachi - Nakuru
21. Victor Oduor - Kenya Harlequins
22. Dennis Abenga - Nakuru
23. Kelvin Omiyo - Nakuru
24. Peter Kepher Odera - Strathmore

Officials

1. Michael ‘Tank’ Otieno - Head coach
2. Edward Kinyany - Asst Coach
3. Charles Ngovi - Asst Coach
4. Leonard Wangila - Team Manager
5. Christopher Makachia – Physiotherapist

Owiro Asiko - Head of Delegation