KRU Championship: Pirates lock horns with Daystar as MMUST host Impala

The climax of the race for Kenya Cup qualification is set for Saturday 23 March with the KRU Championship semifinals scheduled in Kakamega and Diani.

With four teams vying for the two coveted slots, the battle remains intense among South Coast Pirates, Daystar Falcons, Masinde Muliro, and Impala to secure their places into the top tier.

In what promises to be a historic showdown, South Coast Pirates and Daystar Falcons, both newcomers to the Kenya Cup scene, will clash in Diani, each eager to seize their maiden opportunity for top-flight rugby.

South Coast Pirates will rely on home advantage to become the first team from Kenya’s South Coast to qualify for the Kenya Cup.

They finished second in the regular season, earning the right to host Daystar Falcons, who secured their spot after defeating JKUAT Cougars in the playoffs.

For Daystar Falcons, this marks their second consecutive season in the KRU Championship after their promotion.

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They narrowly missed promotion during the 2022/2023 season, falling short to Kisumu RFC in the semis.

Their opponents South Coast Pirates have been perennial contenders, knocking on the door of promotion for the last two seasons.

The first one was in the 2021/22 campaign where the pirates played hosts to Mean Machine in the semifinals, but went ahead to lose 14-20.

Their recent endeavors also saw them reach the semi-finals, only to be edged out by Nondies 34-10 in Nairobi.

The Pirates, determined to rewrite history, are unbeaten at home since last year’s close encounter with Kenya Cup side Nondies.

Should Pirates emerge victorious, they’ll etch their names in the annals of Kwale County’s sporting history as the first club to ascend to the top-tier league.

The head-to-head record between these two sides is also exciting.

Daystar Falcons have clinched nine victories in 11 matches and suffered losses against MMUST and Western Bulls in Kakamega.

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In Kakamega, Masinde Muliro, the regular season leaders, face Impala, aiming to replicate their previous victory over the former champions.

However, Impala, with their rich history in Kenyan rugby, are determined to reclaim their Kenya Cup status after relegation in the previous season.