South Coast Pirates' plan ahead of Kenya Cup debut
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Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 21.11.24. | 17:42
To support their technical ambitions, the Pirates have roped in the services of former Kenya 15s coach Paul Odera
Kwale-based Kenya Cup side South Coast Pirates are ready to make waves in their first-ever top-tier campaign following their promotion from the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) Championship.
Their journey begins with a challenging away fixture against KCB Rugby on Saturday 23 November, marking a historic moment for the team and coastal rugby as a whole. The Pirates are the first-ever team from Kwale County to play in the Kenya Cup.
To prepare for the demanding season, the Pirates have been sharpening their skills through intense pre-season training. They faced Mombasa RFC in a hard-fought friendly, narrowly losing 7-5, and hosted Olympus RFC in an international fixture, securing a commanding 24-3 victory.
In an exclusive interview with Mozzart Sport, the team’s coach Kevin Amiani expressed his pride for leading the side to such a major feat, remaining optimistic that their first season would be fruitful.
“I am excited and privileged for this moment; this is a dream come true for me,” he offered.
They have bolstered their squad with new talent, including Kenya U20 forward Hafidh Abdulrahman Mohammed from Mombasa RFC.
They have also extended flyhalf Kelly Akengo’s contract to ensure continuity in the team’s leadership on the field. Former Nakuru RFC Gilbert Ochieng’s contract was not renewed.
Amiani went on to highlight the importance of a cohesive team structure ahead of their anticipated challenging match against the Bankers.
“So far, so good. We have not changed a lot since our structures are working. Unless we get challenged, then we will go back to the drawing board and repackage ourselves,” he averred.
While confident in their strategy, Amiani acknowledged areas that needed improvement. He also emphasized the team’s commitment to developing a competitive squad and providing exposure for as many players as possible.
“Our set-pieces are an area we need to work on to execute our plays effectively,” Amiani noted.
To support their technical ambitions, the Pirates have roped in the services of former Kenya 15s coach Paul Odera.
The team’s primary goal for their debut season is to maintain their Kenya Cup status. Amiani made it clear they aim to avoid the fate of newly promoted teams that struggle to stay in the league.
“We have a clear plan which everybody in the team is embracing. We will put in the work to make sure the Pirates become a dominant team soon,” he affirmed.
They were promoted to the Kenya Cup after a tremendous 30-15 win over Daystar Falcons at the Seacrest grounds.
Their journey towards Kenya Cup promotion was marked by both triumphs and challenges. In the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons, they came close to securing their promotion but were edged out by Mean Machine and Nondies respectively.
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