Nairobi School rugby side will play in two warm-up tournaments in readiness for the County Games next month.
Coach Allan Ngige said his charges will play in the Lenana Open slated for this weekend and the Mangu Open in two weeks as they look at seizing one of the sole automatic slots to the National Secondary School Games in Machakos in April.
“It's a new year and we are hoping to play in the two tournaments to gauge our form, fitness, and mental preparedness," he noted
Ngige observed: "Our performance in the two events will be an indicator to see where we are as a team and if we have grown since I arrived at the school nine months ago.”
Ngige, who joined Nairobi School in the second term, led the school to the county Sevens semis last year, where they lost to Lenana in the semis.
He is confident his charges can be competitive against the likes of holders Ofafa Jerich, Dagoretti, and Upper Hill in the longer version of the game.
“We need to work on our mental preparation heading into the county games. The boys are in peak condition and not afraid of the opposition," he noted.
The 40-man squad started their training a month ago and will be whittled down to 25 for the event.
The tactician said he has a good blend within the team of third and fourth formers with a sprinkling of Form Twos.
“A good number of the players excelled last year and with the Form ones coming to train from next week, we will have a good pool of players to choose from for the upcoming matches and tournaments,” added Ngige.
Nairobi School better known as "Patch Machine" lost in the quarters to Lenana 14-5 last year with the Lenana bowing out of the semis to Ofafa Jericho 15-10.
Ofafa were crowned champions after edging Upper Hill 18-0 in the final. Upper Hill had defeated Dagoretti High 16-8 in the semifinals.
