Paarwater names Kenya Simbas 23-man squad to face Uganda

Head coach Jerome Paarwater has announced the 23-man Simbas squad that will be taking on Uganda in the opening leg of the Elgon Cup at the RFUEA Grounds on Saturday.

Kenya under 20 international Andycole Omolo is set to make his debut for senior side alongside Tyson Maina and Griffin Chao.

Ephraim Oduor starts off at prop together with Wilhite Mususi as vice-captain Eugine Sifuna closes in the front row at hooker.

Emmanuel Silungi and Hillary Odhiambo pair up at second row.George Nyambua holds in the back row together with debutant Omolo at number six and seven respectively.

Jeanson Misoga seals it for the forwards as eighth man.

The half back pairing of Brian Wahinya at Scrum half and Barry Young at fly half is set to take charge of the game.

Walter Okoth and Tyson Maina shall be in charge of the mid field at number 12 and 13 respectively.

Alfred Orege mans the blind wing as Griffin Chao stays in the open wing. Timothy Omela will be the full back of the game.

Simbas will be playing their first match since July when they finished fourth at the Rugby Africa Cup in Kampala, Uganda.

Meanwhile, the national women’s rugby 7s team has set base in Accra ahead of this year’s Rugby Africa Women’s 7s Cup at the Accra University set for this weekend.

The Lionesses are in pool B alongside Madagascar, Ghana and Mauritius as defending champions South Africa lead pool A alongside Tunisia, Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso as Uganda rules pool C that has Zambia, Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire.

Last year, South Africa beat Kenya Lionesses at the final to deny the country a direct ticket for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.

At the tournament, the top two teams will qualify for the Challenger Series.