Kenya Rugby 15's in Morocco for 'Africa Cup'

The Kenya 15's are in Morocco for the Africa Cup. That is a first step
to becoming 'Champions of Africa'. Good luck to them as we surely need
a boost for the real rugby game as they play catch up to the 7's.

Kenya play Senegal who though are unknown should be good fodder for
the team. In the other semi hosts Morocco play Cameroon in what should
be a close encounter with Morocco having the edge. Thereafter we can
anticipate a bruising final between Kenya and Morocco where the result
could go either way. The winner then meets the winner of the southern
tournament which consists of Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and
Madagascar. Zimbabwe should easily run with this one though don't
rule out a shock from Madagascar.
It is worth noting that Uganda, Tunisia, Ivory Coast and Namibia are
not involved due to their continued participation in the 2011 Rugby
World Cup qualifiers. South Africa for obvious reasons do not take
part.

Are Kenya well prepared? Your guess is as good as mine. It should be
noted that some players including the national team captain. Simiyu
defied national team rules and with impunity turned out for his club
Impala on the eve of the teams departure to Morocco.. That should have
seen him immediately stripped of the captaincy. Team management are
definitely not in control here. The 'IRB' Impala Rugby Business a.k.a
KRFU Kenya Rugby Football Union would never take action against their
own 'son' or team Impala.

Senegal spent a week acclimatising in France by the Mediteranean
shores. Morocco and Cameroon have have meanwhile been bolstered by
their foreign legion that play pro rugby in France. Kenya meanwhile
went to Samburu for a weekend courtesy Sarova (good marketing stunt
for the hotel chain) and continued the same old routine of playing
'tough matches' against KCB, Quins and Impala. One woders why Telkom
Orange as the 15's team sponsor could not have facilitated through the
parent office in France a week of high intensive training in France.
Are Orange simply using the 15's as a springboard to getting to the
Kenya 7's side? Who's fooling who here? Seems Virgin Atlantic are
slowly being edged out by some external forces. Virgin stood with us
when nobody belived that one day we will be Worldbeaters in 7's.
Hopefully Kenya 15's will overcome all the odds and hurdles ahead plus
the weather and win in Casablanca, Morocco.

The inclusion of Asiko Owiro as head of delegation is a sure recipe
for disaster as stated by one reader on the blog. Why is the former
disastrous KRFU treasurer being rewarded with a trip? Are memories of
93 being forgotten where he threw out current national team coach Tank
Otieno out of the team hotel on the eve of the then RWC qualifiers?
Another avid reader states that even the current
ineffective/inefficient General Manager Auko Gecheo would have been a
far more appealing choice.

Anyway let's enjoy the rugby and talk afterwards.