Rift Valley’s Gilgil Vumbi put up an impressive show to scoop all the categories of the inaugural Scrummage Africa Kids 7s tournament held at Kakamega school.
The maiden tournament, which was held on Saturday in Kakamega attracted 12 teams and was deemed a success by the organizing committee led by the tournament director Brian Mwenje.
In the under-12 category, there were a total of four teams for the boys. With this, the format of Play was a round-robin. Here the Rift Valley’s team, Gilgil Vumbi showed their dominance over other teams winning all their games.
Scrummage Africa Kids 7s
Other participating teams were Kabras, Toto Afrika from Mumias and Bungoma. For the girls there were only two teams which managed to show up that is Gilgil Vumbi and Bungoma. In this Gilgil, continued their dominance by thrashing Bungoma 39-0. Gilgil’s, Josephine Kerubo emerged as the most valuable player scoring a total of three tries and being outstanding.
Gilgil Vumbi Girls team after winning Scrummage Africa Kids 7s. PHOTO/Scrummage
For the under 14 category a total of six teams registered to take part. This saw the organizers led by Mwenje putting the teams in two pools.
In pool A we had Kabras, Kakamega and Bungoma while in pool B we had Barbarians, Gilgil and Mumias. However, Mumias registered but they did not have a quota of players required, therefore all their games were walkovers to the opponents.
In pool A Kakamega dominated by running over Kabras and Bungoma. Kabras and Bungoma met to decide the second spot and Bungoma emerged the winner defeating Kabras 15-5.
The first semi saw Kakamega facing off with Barbarian. Kakamega ran over Barbarian defeating them with a resounding 39-0. In the second semi, we had Gilgil Vumbi continuing their dominance in the tournament by winning 27-0 against Bungoma booking their ticket for the finals against Kakamega.
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The finals was an intense match seeing Gilgil having a narrow win against Kakamega. Gilgil had to dig deep to win the finals. The first half saw Gilgil leading 12-7.
In the second half, Kakamega equalised through Robert Carlos but that was not enough as Gilgil’s Garang Geu put them in front in the dying minutes of the second half prompting a 19-12 win for the Rift Valley side side ensuring they won the last category of the tournament.
Toto Afrika’s head coach Boniface Mulama lauded the tournament, however, he called for more team to participate. “The games have been successful, my kids enjoyed and this was the right tournament for their exposure as they get to play with their fellow kids. I hope in the next edition more teams will take the initiative of registering to participate,” Mulama told Scrummage Africa.
Winning coach comments
Gilgil coach Allan Bush was on the moon after winning all the categories in the tournament. “The best feeling of the year after achieving the goals and dreams of coming to kakamega and making the huge statement that rugby is our thing and rugby is made in riftvalley.In future we need more girls team through adequate planning and early invitations. We will also need more restriction in matters age but all in all it was a good day of age grade rugby,” delightful Bush revealed.
Scrummage Africa 7s Kids Tournament participants in ana address. PHOTO/Scrummage
The tournament director thanked all the well wishers who came through for him in making the tournament to be what it had to be. “All I can say is thank you to everyone who set aside their cent and time in making sure that this tournament be what it has been. I would like to thank my able team that I have been working with all along. Our CEO Amanga Collins for giving us this opportunity in ensuring that we give this kids such a tournament. The tournament secretary Nelvine Lumiti for his good work on and off the media. Dave Mwaura for ensuring we have timely posters all through. Tabitha Nashipae of Mozzart for coming through for us and last but not least Shirley Anido from the Rugby Union for making sure that this tournament happens.” Mwenje stated.
“Next year we are planning bigger things for your kids and it only gets better. We are hoping that this tournament will be rotational and we are going to come to your region next,” added Mwenje.
