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T. NashipaeShiasi wants more after bagging Christie 7s MVP
Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 16.08.23. | 14:35
The 26-year-old, joined KCB from Strathmore Leos
KCB Rugby landed one of the biggest talents in January after signing Festus Shiasi.
The 26-year-old, who joined from Strathmore Leos, had instant impact as he debuted or the bankers in their 62-15 victory over Menengai Oilers on February 13.
Six months later, Shiasi bagged the Christie 7s Most Valuable Player at the RFUEA grounds on Sunday, August 13. He was key in KCB’s dominance in the tournament.
Oozing excitement, the former Mean Machine player said that the recognition will push him to achieve more.
“It is a great feeling considering the hard work we have put in training,” Shiasi noted.
The bankers checked into the RFUEA grounds with a 26-7 victory over Catholic Monks before registering a 40-0 cleansheet over Strathmore Leos. They then defeated Kisumu RFC 17-10 to finish the pool matches on a high.
At the quarterfinal stage, Andrew Amonde’s charges saw off 2014 Christie 7s winners Mwamba RFC 24-7, followed by a resounding 33-7 victory over Nakuru RFC at the semifinal stage. They capped their unbeaten streak with a 17-12 win over Strathmore Leos in the closely contested finals.
“Teamwork and a supportive technical team greatly enabled us to win. We faced a challenging match against Strathmore University because we were equally good in skills and personnel,” he said.
The 26-year-old revealed that he will use the two-week break to further sharpen his skills in preparation for Tisap 7s set for September 2 and 3.
“I am going back to the drawing board and correcting the few errors I had over the weekend, training and maximizing my strength,” he explained.
He has set his gaze on helping KCB win this year’s circuit, in addition to playing for the national team, Shujaa. The bankers are two points behind Kabras RFC who lead the log with 80 points.
“My first goal is to win the local national circuit. I am also aspiring to be in the Shujaa squad," Shiasi revealed.
Nicknamed Smadi, Shiasi is one of the most promising KCB Rugby’s players. Prior to his call-up to the den, he had stints with Mean Machine and Nairobi School where his career began.
