Mwamba RFC coach Mark Mshila keeps playoff dream alive with Pirates win

Mwamba RFC tactician Mark Mshila is optimistic that his team will surge into the playoffs despite a rocky start to the season.

This is after the side secured a much-needed 38-8 victory over South Coast Pirates in their sixth Kenya Cup match on Saturday, 25 January.

The win marked Mwamba's first of the season, breaking a six-match losing streak that had left the team struggling in the early stages of the campaign.

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The win saw them rise to 10th on the 12-team log with five points.

The win was a crucial one for Mwamba, with the team scoring four tries in the first half to secure the bonus point. They then added another 10 points in the second half to complete a dominant performance.

With their first win now under their belt, Mshila insisted that Mwamba’s playoff aspirations are now very much alive.

"When we started the season, we all agreed that we were competing, not participating. The minimum we want to get is a playoff spot. I always coach with the aim of producing players for the national team," he said in an exclusive with Mozzart Sport after the match.

Mshila went on to explain reasons for the team's not-so-good start, promising to turn the tides.

They faced numerous challenges in the early part of the season, including limited group training and sluggishness on the field due to the arrival of new players.

However, Mshila noted that the team’s young players, many of whom are under 21, have started to find their rhythm.

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"It feels good to have a bonus point in that game. I'm ecstatic. We faced teams that are stronger and as you can see, there are lots of young players here, mostly under 21 and under 20.

At the beginning of the season, we were trying to gel them together and help them believe in themselves. We are starting to get there," Mshila offered.

The former KCB Rugby assistant and backs coach also lauded Pirates' fighting spirit, but he emphasized that Mwamba’s hunger for the win was greater.

“Pirates are a strong side. They gave us a run for our money, but my boys came out on top. Pirates brought the fight, but we were stronger than them because we needed to win more than them,” he said.

His sentiments were echoed by the team's captain Bruce Shiemi who noted that the win gave them the right momentum going into future matches.

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"We expect to win the coming games because we started with a very experienced side, and we were in the process of bringing in young players. But as of now, the players have adjusted, and we are looking forward to winning the remaining games," Shiemi said.

The Black Shirts will travel to Kisumu on Saturday 1 February to lock horns with Kisumu RFC as they seek a second win.