Mwamba RFC chairman Edwin Waita/HANDOUTMwamba RFC chairman Edwin Waita is confident the club will secure an immediate return to the Kenya Cup as they prepare to kick off their KRU Championship campaign this weekend.
The former giants of Kenyan rugby were relegated last season alongside South Coast Pirates, but Waita says the mood within the squad is one of determination and renewal. “We are a few days from the league kick-off of the season and preparations are in high gear. Our key focus this season is to immediately bounce back from the Championship to the Kenya Cup, where we belong,” he said.
Waita revealed that the club has been undergoing a rebuilding process aimed at restoring the trademark Mwamba Rugby culture. “We embarked on a massive recruitment targeting specific positions, and we've also incorporated a few tacticians who we believe will take us to the next level,” he added.
The team began its preparations early during the Impala Floodlit tournament, which allowed the technical bench to identify weaknesses and address them ahead of the new season. “It is still a learning curve, but we are in the right direction,” Waita noted.
He reiterated the club’s commitment to nurturing character and discipline among players.
“My success is seeing young men and women in this club growing in character and how they play. Mwamba is known as a family club. My joy is seeing disciplined young men and women taking up roles in society and taking responsibility with their game," he said.
While Mwamba retained most of their squad from last season, they suffered one major departure — Brian Ayimba, who joined Kenya Cup side Nondies.
A few senior players have also retired.
However, Waita believes their influx of young talent will be crucial to their promotion push. Several high school graduates who impressed during the national Sevens circuit, including Washington Ogido, German Ochieng' and Paul Tati, are expected to play significant roles this season.
Mwamba, the 1983 Kenya Cup champions, will open their KRU Championship campaign on Saturday at home against newly promoted National Youth Service (NYS) Spades.
NYS Spades' rise to the second tier comes alongside Kisii Rugby, last season’s KRU Nationwide champions.
Kisii will begin their season on the road with a trip to Diani, Kwale County, where they face familiar rivals South Coast Pirates at Seacrest School.
