Kisii RFC and National Youth Service (NYS) Spades have secured qualification for the KRU Championship.
Kisii RFC edged Administration Police (AP) Warriors 13-6 in a tightly contested match at Kisii School to qualify, while NYS Spades progressed to the second-tier league after narrowly beating Kenya Prisons 14-12.
The two clubs will replace the University of Eldoret’s Trojans and the Technical University of Mombasa’s Marines, which were relegated to the third-tier league. Kisii RFC will take on NYS Spades in the KRU Nationwide finals. They make a return to the second-tier league after five years in the cold.
Coach Lee Aristone said they have now shifted their focus to the final game. “Even though we have achieved our target of returning to the KRU Championship, we want to win the Nationwide title. We want the bragging rights,” said Aristone.
Reacting to the game against AP Warriors, Aristone said: “It was a very tight game because AP were the first team to score. However, we responded immediately and led 7-6 at the break. We are hoping for a good season in the KRU Championship. The club’s chairman, Eric Bosire, said they will start their KRU Championship preparations immediately after the final.
“We shall strengthen the team because the KRU Championship is competitive,” added Bosire, who previously coached the team. He hailed the players for helping the team qualify for the KRU Championship despite the financial struggles.
“I’m happy for the boys, and I want to thank those who supported us financially. The team has a lot of potential, and the boys have the potential to play in the Kenya Cup,” he added.
Elsewhere, Gabriel Eliazaro has been elected as the Kisumu RFC chairman.
Eliazaro previously served as the Kenya Cup side’s vice chairman. Benson Maina was elected as vice chairman, while Paul Ogola takes over as treasurer.
Annie Wanjiru is the organising secretary, while Robert Wechesi is the new honorary secretary.
