Africa-Press – Kenya. Rugby vice-captain Sheldon Kahi has called for improved execution and discipline following the team’s narrow exit from the Enterprise Cup at the hands of Uganda’s Pirates in Kampala.
The former champions fell 11-10 in a tightly contested quarter-final on Saturday, extending their wait for the title to nine years, having last lifted the trophy in 2017.
Kahi admitted that missed opportunities and lapses in discipline proved costly. “Execution in attack has to be sharper. We created chances but did not take them,” said Kahi.
“Our discipline also let us down — we conceded kickable penalties, which disrupted our momentum, especially in attack.
”He added that the team must quickly regroup ahead of their Kenya Cup semi-final in three weeks.
“We go back to the drawing board. If we improve in those aspects, we will be in a strong position heading into the semi-final,” he noted.
The quarter-final clash was a tense affair, with both sides showing defensive resilience in the opening half. Pirates’ William Nkore slotted two penalties to give the hosts a narrow lead at the break.
KCB responded strongly after the restart. Kahi produced a moment of brilliance, beating multiple defenders to score in the corner and cutting the deficit to a single point.
However, Pirates hit back almost immediately with a well-worked try to stretch their lead to 11-5. The bankers refused to back down and piled pressure on the hosts.
Their persistence paid off when Mike Wekesa capitalised on a well-timed kick chase to score an unconverted try, bringing KCB within a point once again.
Despite the late surge, Pirates held firm in the closing stages, defending resolutely to secure a place in the semi-finals. Elsewhere, defending champions Kabras Sugar delivered a statement performance, thrashing Uganda’s Heathens 61-19 to storm into the last four.
The sugarmen outscored their opponents nine tries to three in a dominant display. Griffin Chao bagged a brace, while Eugene Sifuna, Eric Cantona, Walter Okoth, Derrick Ashiundu, George Nyambua and Matthew Osimbo each crossed the whitewash.
Cantona added two conversions and a penalty, with Barry Young contributing two conversions. Menengai Oilers also impressed, hammering Buffaloes 60-15 to set up a semi-final clash with Kabras. In the other quarter-final, Nondescripts defeated Kobs 29-13 and will face Pirates in Kampala on April 11.
