It’s Time For The Playoffs Across The Kenya Cup, Championship & Nationwide Leagues

Mar 31 • General News, International • 1806 Views • Comments Off on It’s Time For The Playoffs Across The Kenya Cup, Championship & Nationwide Leagues

Two matches are on the cards this weekend as the Kenya Cup’s Top Six playoffs take place.
SportPesa Quins who finished third after the conclusion of the league phase of the competition are up against plucky Mwamba at the RFUEA Ground. The stakes are obviously high, the winner takes it all (to paraphrase the lyrics of iconic 1980s pop group ABBA), a semifinal next weekend away to KCB the reward for winning this clash.
Quins did enough to secure their playoff qualification with several matches to spare but Mwamba needed a late Greg Odhiambo try to lose by seven point margin last weekend against KCB, the bonus point seeing them end the regular season on 47 points, claiming the sixth and final slot despite being tied with two-time champions Top Fry Nakuru. They only snuck through due to a superior for/against difference.
Both sides come into this fixture with plenty of motivation, Quins looking to avenge that 7-15 loss away to Mwamba on Saturday 11 February 2017. It goes without saying Mwamba will be out to repeat the Railway Club heroics and this, of course, sets the stage for a potentially entertaining fixture at the RFUEA.

Resolution Impala Saracens and Kabras Sugar meet up at the Impala Club in the other Kenya Cup Top Six Playoff. The last time the two sides met at this venue was on Saturday 7 May 2016, Kabras registering a 22-7 result to claim their maiden Kenya Cup title.
Just as it was last season, the Sarries finished ahead of the Kakamega based outfit at the close of league play but it is important to note the champions were 29-26 winners when they hosted the Sarries in Kakamega on Saturday 18 March.

This sets the stage for an intriguing clash, the winners of this fixture advancing to an away semifinal against Menengai Cream Homeboyz on Saturday 8 April 2017.

KRU Championship
The KRU Championship Top Six playoffs pits USIU against South Coast Pirates at the USIU Ground USIU, who finished third in the regular season posted a 27-0 win over the Pirates when the two sides clashed in Ukunda on Saturday 11 March and will be looking do the double and reach the semifinals as they keep their quest for a return to the Kenya Cup alive. The winner of this tie will play away to Resolution Kisii next weekend.

The second playoff clash on the cards sees former Kenya Cup sides Kisumu and Mombasa duel at the ASK Showground in Kisumu City. Three points separated the two sides when they last clashed in league action on 4 March 2017, Kisumu just shading it 10-7 at the same venue. The winner of this match will play away to the Catholic Monks in next weekend’s semifinal.

Nationwide League: Its D- Day In Western & Rift

Nairobi region finalists Ngong RFC and MKU Nairobi will sit out action this weekend as they await the other regions to complete their required fixtures before they meet in the Nationwide playoffs to determine which two teams will be promoted to the Championship league.

Rift Valley Region enters its finals this weekend as the two giants in the region Menengai Oilers and Egerton face off as only one will qualify for a playoff position Nationally against the other finalists in other regions. This fixture will be played at the Nakuru Showgrounds at 3:00 PM.

Western Region finals see CITAM Kisumu travel to meet their hosts Maseno University at the Varsity grounds. The match will kick off at 3:00 PM

Central Region enters its final round of the league matches: Dedan Kimathi University will host first placed Embu RFC, Chuka Vikings will battle it out with MKU Thika at the Chuka University. The other two fixtures in the league will have Murang’an RFC faces Karatina University at the Murang’a University College while the Nanyuki Jackals travel to meet Zetech RFC. Semifinals in this region will see the team that finishes first host the fourth team while the second ranked team will host the third-placed team on the 8th of April.