The semi final pairing in the KRU Nationwide league is now completed after action on Saturday 6 November 2021.
Shamas reached the last four with a 22-0 win over Maseno University Saints while Daystar Falcons benefited from a 28-0 walkover after their clash with hosts CITAM Kisumu failed to take place due to the hosts inability to provide a safe and secure playing arena.
Kitale defeated JKUAT Cougars 27-8 to set up a date with Kabarak who won 38-29 over Technical University of Mombasa.
The semi finals are set for November 13. The two victorious semifinalists will gain promotion to the second tier KRU Championship.
Shamas Rugby Foundation will face off with Daystar Falcons while Kitale will host Kabarak University in the semifinals.
Speaking to teamkenya.co.ke, Falcons captain John Oliele, noted that as a team they have been able to reach that level through the support from the schools' management.
The school management has been of immense help to us as a team. When we were hit by the pandemic, we had no access to a field, but the school gave us protocols that we had to follow so we could access the grounds. From there is when we started our preparations as a team," the captain stated.
Oliele noted that the team has been missing key players as most of them had engagements such as attachments.
"We have missed some key players as most of them are doing their attachments and they have not had a chance to come train with us.”
“We have been using the new students who joined the school and they have been an immense help to us reaching this far in the tournament,” Oliele added.
The Falcons captain praised the Union for bringing back the tournament that had been put to a pause due to the pandemic.
“The preparation of the tournament has been good. First, we appreciate the bringing back of the tournament, because as you can see most of our players are students and most of our leisure time was spent on the pitch.”
“When the tournament was brought back it has helped a lot as most of the students when they are done with class if it's not rugby they could be indulging themselves in other vices but know that its back everyone is engaged in something constructive,” he noted.
Oliele also explained what led to their walkover after their clash with hosts CITAM Kisumu failed to take place.
“For our quarter final CITAM were not prepared when we arrived, so the Kisumu commissioner and the referees stopped the match from happening as the post parts, the ambulance that was available was empty and the field was not marked.”
“They were given time to sort the issues out for the match to start but they did not do anything, so the union gave us the walkover.”
“We were ready for the match, but the union decided the match would not take place due to reasons they termed as lack of safe and secure playing area” the captain stated.
On the semifinals preparations the Falcons captain noted the team will focus on the basics as it is what has brought them this far.
“We want to work on our basics and focus on our structures, we are not changing anything. We play basic rugby without adding anything extra.”
“We know Shamas are a tough team, their squad is younger so they are psyched and for us to maintain their pressure we must stick to the basics
“Our target has been and still is proceeding to the championship,” Oliele highlighted.