S. OchiengOdera names Simbas squad for final assignment in SA
Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 28.05.22. | 07:00
The team will be playing their last match in South Africa after nearly two months down under
Kenya Simbas head coach Paul Odera has named the squad that will face South Eastern Districts Eagles (SWD Eagles) in the team’s last Currie Cup Division 1 match to be played in South Africa.
After almost two months away, the national men’s rugby 15s side will take on Eagles on Saturday before departing the country on Sunday 29 May to jet back home.
Martin Owilah, Teddy Akala, Bryceson Adaka and Dominic Coulson joined the team last week so as to familiarize themselves with the styles of play the team has been going through and eventually to understand it fully by the time The Simbas head to France for the 2023 Rugby World Cup Qualifiers.
Speaking after the Captain’s run on Friday afternoon, Odera said the session went very well however, “The toughest part of training this week has been integrating the four players into the current system. They have done well to absorb a lot in such a short time,” he said.
Additionally, injuries in the team have forced a number of changes in the lineup. Captain Daniel Sikuta and Thomas Okeyo are out due to ankle injuries, Elkeans Musonye and Colman Were have hamstring injuries while Brian Juma and Andrew Siminyu are out with thigh injuries.
Warm up done and dusted. Ready for kick off in the next 9 minutes.#TheSimbas#CurrieCup pic.twitter.com/k5VtBFt6LO
— #TheSimbas (@KenyaSimbas) May 21, 2022
In the Simbas line up this weekend, Teddy Akala will be looking forward to making his debut while Owilah starts for the Simbas after a three-year hiatus.
The Simbas will play against the Leopards on 4th June and against the Eastern Province Elephants on 11th June in their last two Currie Cup matches which will be played in Nairobi.
Simbas squad facing the SWD Eagles:
1. Patrick Ouko, 2. Eugene Sifuna, 3. Joseph Odero, 4. Clinton Juma, 5. Martin Owilah, 6. George Nyambua(Captain), 7. Chrispine Shitundo, 8. Bethuel Anami, 9. Brian Wahinya, 10. Dominic Coulson, 11. Beldad Ogeta, 12. Peter Kilonzo(Vice-Captain), 13. Bryceson Adaka, 14. Timothy Omela, 15. Andrew Matoka. Reserves. 16. Teddy Akala*, 17. Edward Mwaura, 18. Ephraim Oduor, 19. Shem Joseph, 20 Brian Amaitsa, 21. Brian Tanga, 22. Vincent Onyala, 23. Darwin Mukidza.
Currie Cup Results
Falcons 51-14 Simbas
Simbas 21-22 Zimbabwe Goshawks
Griffons 66-33 Simbas
Simbas 35-12 Border Bulldogs
Boland Cavaliers 45-33 Simbas
Simbas vs SWD Eagles 28 May
Simbas vs Leopards 4 June
Simbas vs Eastern Province Elephants 11 June
Additional reporting by KRU.
