After a four-year absence from the National Secondary Schools Championship, the Nairobi School rugby Sevens team have their sights on qualification to the East Africa extravaganza slated for Uganda.
The side, popularly known as ‘Patch Machine’ lost to Upper Hill 7-0 in the Nairobi regional final and coach Allan Wanjohi is bullish about his side’s chances ahead of the Term Two games in Kisumu later this month. month.
The tactician said the qualification is the culmination of three years of planning and hard work.
“We have been in contention for both 15s and Sevens in the last three years, coming up short in the semifinals. This year, we resolved to get over the line and they did it and I am delighted, “ said Wanjohi.
In the 2019 edition, Nairobi School bowed out in the preliminaries and will be seeking to go on a good run in the championship.
Wanjohi’s charges got off to a good start by beating Muhuri Muchiri 88-0, Embakasi Garrison 40-0 and Dagoretti Mixed 66-0 to top the overall standings with nine points and qualify for the last eight.
In the quarterfinals, they humiliated Hospital Hill 60-0 to book their spot in the semifinals, where they dispatched former champions Ofafa Jericho Secondary School 31-5 to romp into the final.
With two weeks to the nationals, Wanjohi said they will work on aspects of play to improve their overall game.
“We are not where we ought to be but with a couple of days of training, we can polish up and be a competitive ahead to the nationals,” noted Wanjohi.
Nairobi school will be up against the likes of Alliance, St Mary’s Yala, Kisii p, Meru School and Kangaru,.Wanjohi said they would take one game at a time and exuded confidence that they would rise to the occasion despite starting as underdogs.
Wanjohi was glad to put the side back on the school rugby map after decades of underachievement. “I believe we are on the right track and we are here to stay and compete.”
