Butula Boys’ rugby 15s tactician Libondo Shimenga is confident Kenya can clinch a 1-2-3 finish at the East African School games slated for August 14-25 in Uganda.
Joining Butula are national champions All Saints Embu and Kitondo School from Eastern.
However, he believes teamwork will be key to achieving such a feat.
“We can pull off a 1-2-3 finish in Uganda. Teamwork will see Kenya prevail at the games. I am sure we are up to the task,” he noted.
Butula represented Kenya last year alongside All Saints and St Anthony’s Kitale.
Uganda’s St Mary’s Kisubi claimed the crown with 16 points in a round-robin tournament.
Butula were second with 12 points with St Anthony (10 points) and All Saints (eight points) placing third and fourth respectively. Kings’ college Buddo of Uganda was fifth with a solitary point.
Shimenga, a seasoned tactician who also coached 2014 national champions St Peters Mumias, sees Ugandan teams as their main threat due to their experience and education system.
“Ugandan teams are formidable. They have more experience and games under their belt. However, we’re prepared to take them head-on,” he added.
Shimenga says last year's preparations were hardly hit by the departure of captain Rayvon Ambane, who moved to Bryanston School in the United Kingdom on a scholarship.
Ambane was named the 2022 KSSSA Term One games Most Valuable Player after scoring 128 points —20 tries and 14 conversions.
In Machakos two weeks ago, Butula surrendered the national title to All Saints after a 12-10 defeat. Despite the loss, Shimenga remains focused.
“Losing to All Saints won’t derail our plans. Our main target is to lift the East African trophy. We are focused and the boys are hungry for the title. We are ready to go all the way,” he stated
Shimenga highlighted the need to improve kicks, rucks and mauls after struggling at the national games.
“We are working on our kicks, rucks and maul. We suffered at the national games due to the poor condition of the pitch. Our kicks were poor,” he noted.
