Four schools will be facing off in the rugby 15s friendly matches this weekend as part of their preparations for the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) that kicks off next weekend across the country.
Rift Valley champions St Patrick’s Iten from Elgeyo Marakwet, Kapsabet Boys of Nandi County, Chebisaas Boys from Uasin Gishu and Baringo Boys from Baringo County will converge at the Wareng High school for the two day friendly matches as a build up for the school games.
Iten’s Bernard Indasi, who led his side to win the St St Patrick’s Iten rugby 10s title over the weekend at their backyard said that the friendly will help them build formidable teams that will produce competitive players when school games kick off.
“We have seen the need to play friendlies as a build up for the school games. There is a need to come together to test how prepared you are for the games especially with students who will want exposure,” said Indasi who led his side beat St Anthony’s Kitale 10-08 to win the Rift valley rugby 15s title last year.
He said that the sub county school games will start on the weekend of 24th before students head into the half term and resume on the weekend of 8th for the county championships.
“Right now, my team is fine and ready for the contest both at the friendly matches and school games,” he said.
As a regional champion, he said that there is pressure opponents will be preparing on how to beat his side to claim the glory.
“Yes, pressure is there as defending champions both at the county and regional level, our opponents are arming themselves for a slice of a cake but the morale in the team is so high that we want to move more steps than last year,” said Indasi.
Last weekend, St. Patrick’s Iten B team defeated St Michael Kipsombe from Uasin Gishu to win the Iten 10s title with 12-0 with Indasi explaining that they were worthy opponents in the tournament. The hosts listed two teams in a trournament that attracted eight schools: Baringo High, Chewoyet, Tambach, Meteitei, Samoei, Kipsombe, Laboretti, St Patrick’s A and B.
“This was a good game for us considering that Kipsombe are Uasin Gishu county champions,” he said.
In the semifinals, the champions beat Tambach 10-07 with Kipsombe winning 17-07 against Iten A.