AP Warriors players during a past game/AP Warriors Two KRU Championship promotion slots are on the line this Saturday as the KRU Nationwide enters the semi-final stage, with winners set to secure places in next season’s second-tier league.
Administration Police (AP) Warriors host former KRU Championship side Kabarak University at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) in Juja, while Kenya Prisons face Sigalagala National Polytechnic at the Prisons Training College in Ruiru.
The two winners will replace Western Bulls and USIU-A Martials in the KRU Championship.
AP Warriors head coach Levy Amunga is confident his side can finally break a seven-year jinx and secure promotion.
“We have tried unsuccessfully for the last seven seasons. Last season we narrowly lost to Kisii Rugby in the semi-final. I trust the boys will show up and finish the job on Saturday,” said Amunga.
He, however, stressed that execution will be key against a well-drilled Kabarak side.
“We must be sharp and minimize mistakes in our half. Kabarak is well-coached and a good side, but we are ready to battle them. We respect them as opponents,” he added.
Amunga said the team has enjoyed a strong campaign and enters the fixture with a fully fit squad.
“All our key players are fit for selection. We are well prepared for the game,” he said.
Kabarak University coach Leo Ng’etich, meanwhile, expects a demanding contest, pointing to discipline at set pieces as a key focus area.
“We must minimize our mistakes. We made a lot of errors against the Stallions and Kisii National Polytechnic, especially at scrums and breakdowns, but we have worked on them,” he said.
Ng’etich revealed that earlier lapses saw them concede five penalties from scrums and 10 from breakdowns, though they still managed a 24-11 victory over Kisii National Polytechnic to reach the semi-finals.
AP Warriors booked their place in the last four after a narrow 6-3 win over Kilifi Titans, while Kabarak beat Kisii National Polytechnic 24-11.
In the other semi-final, Kenya Prisons advanced after a convincing 23-6 win over Makueni RFC, while Sigalagala National Polytechnic edged EldoPoly Community 27-26 in a tight quarter-final contest.
