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Kenya: Rugby Team Prepares for Madagascar Duty
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The Nation (Nairobi)
14 September 2007
Posted to the web 13 September 2007
Eric Odanga
Nairobi
The national rugby team that will play in the Africa Cup semi-final and final in Madagascar from September 26 will be named on Saturday.
The team will play a build-up match against a Kenya 'A' side at the Rugby Football Union of East Africa ground. Kenya will play Uganda on September 26 for a crack at the Africa Cup title.
Kenya reached the semi-finals for the first time after beating Namibia and Morocco. Without South Africa and Namibia, who are at the World Cup, the four semi-finalists - Kenya, Uganda, Cote d'Ivoire and Madagascar - represent the elite playing nations.
With the World Athletics Championships and Africa Cup of Nations volleyball championships over, rugby and cricket have taken centre stage.
Richard Omwela, the KRFU chairman, remains optimistic that Kenya will overcome Uganda to reach the final.
"It is strange that Kenyans have not grasped the big achievement of the rugby team," the KRFU boss said.
The players and technical bench have had to overcome hardships as they prepare for the competition.
Lack of equipment has not dampened their spirits. They have had to do without a scrum machine, tackle bags and shields as well as field markers.
National team coach Michael 'Tank' Otieno down played some of the hardships and instead urged his charges to win the remaining two games.
In contrast, the Uganda team, which is fully sponsored by Guinness, a subsidiary of East Africa Breweries Limited, will travel to South Africa for a build-up match and camp before flying to Madagascar for the game against Kenya. A difficult balancing act will see the technical bench fill places following the unavailability of some players due to injuries and personal reasons.
Kenya's preparations have been affected by the death of player Wilson K'Opondo's mother. She will be buried at the weekend.
"Our hearts are with the family at this trying time. The rest of the players will have to win the cup for him," Otieno said.
This was almost the same situation when Kenya faced Uganda in the return leg of Elgon Cup. Then, Brian Nyikuli had lost his father. Although a place in the national team is at stake, the coach has organised a kicking competition at the end of the match.
The winner will get Sh3,000. "It is the best way to decide who will take the crucial kicks in Antananarivo," the coach added.
South African referees Willie Roos and Louis Mzomba will be in charge of the Africa Cup semi-finals and final to be played at Mahasamina Stadium.
Two touch judges from South Africa and France have also been named. They are Lesego Legoete, Jacobus Labuschagne (South Africa), Jean-Jacques Durou and Jean-Christian Cauquil (France). South African Burton Hufkie is the referee manager.
Sas Bailey, the International Rugby Board Regional Development Manager and Daniel Blondy are the match commissioners for the Kenya/Uganda and Cote d'Ivoire/Madagascar match. Peter Manda has been appointed as match commissioner for the playoff with Bailey incharge for the final.
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According to the fixtures, Kenya plays Uganda from 1 pm paving way for the match between Cote d'Ivoire and Madagascar from 3 pm.
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