Red-hot Nakuru fire warning shot

Nakuru RFC’s Dalmas Chituyi shields the ball from KCB’s Allan Omuka and Tony Ogot during their Kenya Cup final match at RFUEA grounds on May 14, 2014. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |

What you need to know:

  • Last year, Nakuru exited the competition at the quarter-finals after losing 24-15 to Mean Machine.
  • Nakuru have to get past Homeboyz on Saturday to book a place in the semi-finals.

Kenya Cup and Enterprise Cup champions, Nakuru Rugby Football Club, have sounded a warning shot to opponents ahead of this weekend’s Impala Floodlit rugby tournament.

The Great Rift side’s coach, Dominique Habimana, said his charges are determined to end their poor run at the tournament with victory at this year’s edition.

But first, Nakuru, who are sponsored by Top Fry, have to get past an equally good Homeboyz side on Saturday to book a place in the semi-finals.

Last year, Nakuru exited the competition at the quarter-finals after losing 24-15 to nine-time champions Mean Machine from the University of Nairobi.

Homeboyz fell to hosts Impala Saracens 19-31 in the other quarter-final match.

LONG DROUGHT

“This is the only trophy my team is yet to win hence we have all the motivation to end the drought and lift the coveted title,” said Habimana, adding that he will use the tournament to try different combinations and new players ahead of his team’s Kenya Cup title defence.

Habimana explained that his team has a development programme from where most of his players who will play this weekend will come.

“I have got some exciting backlines and a first row who I will test for the 15s season,” said Habimana, who singled out wingers Nelson Omollo and Cassias Omollo and first rowers Dennis Kilonzo and Darius Muturi as the platers from whom a lot is expected.

“We want to expose our young players to high level games.”

Habimana said it won’t be a bed of roses for his charges as they prepare to put two titles on line (the Kenya Cup and the Enterprise Cup) this season.

Nakuru claimed their second Kenya Cup title when they beat Kenya Commercial Bank 20-13 in the final and won their sixth Enterprise Cup trophy, beating KCB again 18-13 in the final.

The Impala Floodlit tournament director, Willy Ombisi, said winners of this year’s tournament will pocket Sh200,000 and losing finalists Sh100,000.

Play-off winners will get Sh80,000 and losers Sh50,000.

SATURDAY FIXTURES:

Quarter-finals (at Impala Club): Total Nondies v Mean Machine – 2.00pm; Lunch Bar Quins v Mwamba – 4.00pm; Top Fry Nakuru v Homeboyz – 6.00pm; KCB v Resolution Impala Saracens – 7.30pm.

Universities; Blak Blad v Daystar – 10.00am (Impala Club); MKU v Catholic Monks – 10.00am (RFUEA); USIU v TUK – 11.30am (Impala Club); UoN v JKUAT – 11.30am (RFUEA).

Schools: Ofafa Jericho v MFA – 1.15pm (Impala Club); Upper Hill  v Makini – 1.00pm (RFUEA); Laiser Hill v Mang’u – 2.10pm ( RFUEA); Alliance v Lenana -3.30pm (RFUEA).