It is derby weekend in the second tier KRU Championship with two fixtures pitting rivals of close geographical proximity against each other.
Basement side JKUAT Cougars host second from bottom Thika RFC who make the 13km trip to Thika. Both sides come into this clash gunning for victory as they seek to climb up the log. JKUAT are winless after five outings, having posted a draw and four defeats while Thika, relegated from the Kenya Cup last season have registered a win, a draw and four defeats in their six outings to date.
Fourth placed Mombasa will welcome fifth placed South Coast Pirates who make the 31km drive that includes a 700m crossing aboard the Likoni Ferry. The last time this sides faced off was on Saturday 3 December 2016, the Pirates running off with the 16-12 result and the hosts will be out to avenge that defeat as they seek to stay in contention for a return to the country’s top tier league for the first time since the 2014/15 season. The Pirates will certainly have other ideas, looking to scuttle Mombasa’s ambitions and further their own quest for promotion.
Kisumu RFC, for eons the pre-eminent side in the Nyanza region welcome the ambitious Resolution Kisii to the ASK Mamboleo Showground. Kisumu, currently sixth on the log, last featured in the Kenya Cup during the 2012/13 season have fallen off the pace and with require a miracle to climb up the table. Kisii come into this fixture sitting second on the log and boasting the psychological advantage by way of a 27-3 first leg win on Saturday 3 December 2016. With leaders Catholic Monks not in action this weekend, a win will see Kisii return to the Championship summit.
The fourth fixture on the cards is not a derby. It is an all varsity clash pitting third placed United States International University against Moi University who sit eighth on the log. This match takes place at the USIU Grounds. The last time these two sides met was on Saturday 3 December in Eldoret, USIU pulling off a close 22-17 win on the road to stay within the league’s higher reaches.
Collated Match Day 10 Fixtures
Saturday 28 January 2017
JKUAT Cougars v Thika RFC – Juja
Mombasa v South Coast Pirates – Mombasa Sports Club
Kisumu v Resolution Kisii – ASK Mamboleo Showground, Kisumu
USIU v Moi University – USIU