Head Coach Paul Odera has named his match day 23 ahead of today’s Barthes Cup U20 South semifinal against Madagascar at the Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek, Namibia. This match will be played at 4.00pm EAT.
Speaking to Kenya Rugby on Tuesday night, Odera said, “The preparations for the tournament have had a number of challenges including a long flight and a change in accommodation. This has not dampened the team’s spirit, the lads are rearing to go.”
There are two sets of brothers lined up for this match, the Mutuku brothers; Mark and Jeff and the Brighetti brothers, Michele and Massimiliano.
The winner of this match will take on the winner of the clash between hosts Namibia and Zimbabwe for on Saturday 31 March with the overall winner taking on the winner of the North competition for Africa’s sole berth at the 2018 Junior World Rugby Trophy.
Meanwhile, the team received a boost on Tuesday night when Stuart McGreevy, whose son, James, features in the match 23, attended presentation ceremony and will be in Namibia for the duration of the tournament.
Squad to take on Madagascar 15:Edmund Anya, 14. Jeff Mutuku, 13. Victor Matiko, 12. Zeden Marrow, 11. Joshua Macharia, 10. Michele Brighetti, 9. Xavier Bett (captain), 1. Joshua Matasi, 2. Toby Francombe, 3. James Simiyu, 4. Emmanuel Silungi, 5. William Diffu, 6. Stanley Isogol (vice captain), 7. Monate Akuei, 8. Mark Mutuku REPLACEMENTS 16. Kevin Kerore, 17. Bonface Ochieng, 18. John Gachuhi, 19. James McGreevy, 20. Andrew Siminyu, 21. Samuel Asati, 22. Lucas Oppal, 23. Massimiliano Brighetti
