Kenya Simbas make three changes for Victoria Cup title decider against Uganda

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RUGBY Kenya Simbas make three changes for Victoria Cup title decider against Uganda

Joel Omotto 12:22 - 04.11.2023

Kenya Simbas coach Carlos Katywa has made three changes to his squad as he seeks to end their 13-year wait for the Victoria Cup title with a win against hosts Uganda

Kenya Simbas coach Carlos Katywa has made three changes to his squad set to face Uganda in the Victoria Cup decider in Kampala on Sunday.

Reinhard Mwalati, Wilhite Mususi and Walter Okoth are the inclusions for the match against hosts at the King’s Park Arena in Bweyogerere, Kampala. Mwalati and Okoth will make their test debuts in the fixture.

Mwalati, part of the Kenya U20 squad that won the 2021 Rugby Africa U20 Barthes Trophy slots into the openside flank on his test debut, starting ahead of Elkeans Musonye in a backrow that sees skipper George Nyambua at blindside with Jeanson Misoga at number eight.

Mususi, another former Kenya U20 international, starts at tighthead ahead of Hillary Mwanjilwa in a front row that also features Ephraim Oduor and Teddy Akala as Hibrahim Ayoo and Hillary Odhiambo complete the second row pairing

Walter Okoth slots into the inside center position, part of a midfield pairing that also features Bryceson Adaka.

Alfred Orege, Joel Inzuga and Jone Kubu round off the back three as Barry Young and Brian Wahinya are retained as the half back pairing.

Andrew Matoka misses out on the match day squad after sustaining a knock in training while Derrick Ashiundu is rested.

Kenya started their campaign with a 36-12 win over Zambia on Wednesday while Uganda also secured 30-8 win over the same opposition and with each team on five points, a win for either will clinch the title.

Katywa bemoaned a poor display against Zambia even though they won, saying his team did not execute their game plan and he will be hoping for an improved performance in the title decider.

“A few of our structures that we were preparing and hoping to use [against Zambia] we did not execute them well. A few points were left in the field a couple of times where we broke the line,” said Katywa.

“Even the stats show we should have had a very different outcome on the score board because at halftime, we had about 12 line breaks then we gave away a lot of penalties, our discipline let us down, a couple of missed tackles which is not part of our DNA.

“There are a number of things that did not go according to plan but you know if a team can play badly and still win in a game of that magnitude, then we have a good team in these lads.

“We stat down and did a good review of the game that we played, good post-mortem. We discussed what went good, what went right. We have ticked the boxes that did not tick against Zambia and we have got a few tricks up our sleeves against Uganda but it is up to the players as well they have to execute everything we have planned.

“We watched Uganda against Zambia, looked at where the spaces are, where do we want to play and who are the key players in the opposition side to look out for. But we do not worry much about the opposition but rather what we can execute.”

The match has more significance as it will also double up as the Elgon Cup opener with Kenya keen for a head start before the return leg in Kisumu next week.

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