Callum Oliver showers praises on Nondies after weekend triumph
Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 18.03.24. | 14:50
With the reintroduction of the playoffs from the 2010 season, Nondies have not appeared in a semis
Nondies RFC head coach Callum Oliver has heaped praises on his charges following their last-minute comeback to defeat Kenya Harlequins in the playoff match played on Saturday, 16 March at the RFUEA Grounds.
The win saw the White Shirts book a semifinal slot and will tackle heavyweights Kabras RFC.
This was history made for Nondies RFC who were promoted to the top tier following the conclusion of the 2022/23 Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) Championship league.
Between 2005 and 2009, a league format was used to determine the Kenya Cup champions. With the reintroduction of the playoffs from the 2010 season, Nondies have not appeared in a semifinal fixture.
Their appearance in the semi-final fixture this season evokes memories of the 2003/04 season when Nondies were in the last four.
Coming to their match against Quins, all looked lost for Nondies who were trailing 20-13 after 60 minutes. They found it difficult to break down a side reduced to 14 men, but three tries, including one in the dying minutes, enabled them to make history dramatically.
Speaking after the match, a visibly impressed coach Oliver was pleased by his charges’ fighting spirit. They had a strong mentality which was evident throughout the match, fighting to the final minute.
“It is just relief, really,” Oliver started.
“I thought the game was gone in the last five minutes. I thought it was over. The players showed a lot of heart and fight and kept going to the final whistle, and that is what it is about at the end of the day. We are very thankful to this group of players for their efforts,” he continued.
Despite the impressive win, the tactician noted that they did not play according to the structure. He pointed out that it was their strong mentality that won them the match.
“It is just heart. We did not play our best game. We did not play our best rugby this season. We did not put the things we trained on together (during the match) but it is heart. There was thrill and there was heart, and that is what ultimately won us the game,” he added.
With the triumph now behind them, the team has shifted focus to their upcoming tough match against Kabras RFC.
The Millers will be looking to continue their dominance.
They once again secured the top spot in the standings, marking the sixth consecutive season they have accomplished this feat. They won all 11 of their matches this season, dropping just one bonus point along the way.
Under the guidance of coach Carlos Katywa, Kabras RFC have not suffered a defeat since February 2022, amassing an impressive 54 points out of a possible 55.
