T. NashipaeSouth Coast Pirates dreaming big ahead of 2023/24 Kenya Cup season
Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 26.09.23. | 15:02
In the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons, they came close to securing their promotion but were edged out by Mean machine and Nondies respectively
Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) championship side South Coast Pirates are determined to make the dream promotion to the country’s top tier competition, Kenya cup.
The Kwale county-based side with a fierce spirit and an unwavering dream is making waves in the coastal town of Diani, with their sights on promotion.
While they have twice come close but fell short of their goal, coach Kevin Amiani and his team believe that this is their year, and they are leaving no stone unturned to make their dream a reality.
"It has been a tough journey for the past two seasons, reaching the semis and failing to secure a promotion slot is such a painful experience, but you know what? it is not over yet," Amiani told Mozzart Sport.
"We've gone back to the drawing board, reviewed the past seasons and got what went wrong, currently we are in pre-season camp, and everyone is responding well on matters of fitness and skills," the youthful tactician added.
Pirates have been a force to reckon with in the second-tier league, the KRU Championship, for several seasons.
Their journey towards Kenya Cup promotion has been marked by both triumphs and challenges. In the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons, they came close to securing their promotion but were edged out by Mean machine and Nondies respectively.
Pirates have been a busy side during the post-season, conducting touch rugby tournament training and recently partnered with nutrition firm, Herinuitrition in their bid to get promotion to Kenya cup.
"Our focus is not only building physical strength but also mental fortitude. I believe that success in rugby is not just about scoring tries and making tackles but also about having the mental toughness to withstand pressure and come through when it matters most, hence this partnership that will help us in that sector," the soft spoken Amiani revealed.
As the new championship season approaches, there is an air of confidence among the South Coast Pirates community. Coach Amiani firmly believes that this is their year to break through the barriers and secure their long-awaited promotion.
"We've been working with a very slim squad in the past seasons, so when injuries come, coupled with fatigue, it becomes difficult for us. This season will be boosting our squad, so that we can have depth and competition. I strongly believe we have what it takes to break the jinx and finally reach our glory land," he said.
In a drafted KRU championship fixtures seen by Mozzart Sport, pirates will open their season's campaign with an away trip to Shamas Rugby Foundation.
