South Coast Pirates show fighting spirit amid challenging Kenya Cup debut

Diani-based and Kenya Cup newbies, South Pirates, may have endured a challenging start to the season, but their head coach Kevin Amiani has lauded his charge's fighting spirit and gradual improvement.

Pirates suffered their third consecutive league loss last weekend, falling 30-22 to Impala Saracens in Nairobi.

The soft-spoken Amiani expressed optimism after the match, highlighting his team’s ability to cross the whitewash three times against Impala, a significant improvement from their earlier performances this season.

“This is something we haven’t been doing. Scoring tries. It shows that we are improving, and the players are beginning to believe in themselves,” Amiani told Citizen Digital.

The Pirates’ attacking struggles were evident in their Kenya Cup opener against former champions KCB RFC, where they only managed a solitary try by Collins Kabayo in an 88-5 drubbing.

The following week, they suffered another heavy defeat, losing 45-3 to Kabras Sugar in Diani where pirates fired blanks.

Despite the setbacks, Amiani emphasized the importance of resilience and growth, pointing out that their most recent performance reflected the team’s hard work and determination.

“The players fought hard and showed great character. We are building something, and the results will eventually come,” he added.

Pirates now shift their focus to the Enterprise Cup as they prepare to host Blak Blad this weekend in Diani.

Amiani views the cup match as an opportunity to regroup and build momentum before resuming league action in January, where they are scheduled to face struggling Kisumu RFC.

With three rounds of the Kenya Cup behind them, Amiani and his charges will look to maintain their upward trajectory and capitalize on the lessons learned from their tough start to the season.