It’s said that it’s hard to become a champion and harder to stay a champion!
Well, rugby 15s powerhouse Upper Hill have been there, done that and above all, lived through a season of defeat that has seen them miss the national and East Africa games for years.
Fresh from reclaiming their Nairobi Region title, Upper Hill are back on the bigger stage at this year’s Brookside Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National Term One Games set for next week at Shanzu Teachers College and Shimo La Tewa High School, Mombasa. They are yearning to reclaim their lost glory.
Once a force to reckon with, Upper Hill fizzled out after enjoying a successful year and winning the 2018 national and East Africa gongs.
However, a change in administration saw them fizzle out in 2019 according to team coach Eustace Sifuna.
“We had a good year in 2018, but several changes in administration had a negative impact on our sports activities. Even so, we are happy now that we have the full support of the school’s management following the arrival of our current principal,” Sifuna said.
Sifuna added that their main objective is to excel at the nationals and qualify for the East Africa games.
“Rugby 15s is very competitive, but we are determined to give our best and achieve our objectives. We have been in the cold for many years, but my players are in high spirits and hungry for success.”
“That combined with good skills and discipline I believe that they will surely achieve their goal.”
‘Uppa’, as they are popularly known, are in Group A alongside defending champions All Saints Embu from Eastern, Mang’u High School from Central and Coast region’s Serani Secondary School.
“We are in a very tough pool and that’s why we are focused on coming out of the preliminaries first. Once we secure our place in the semi-finals, we will then plan for the knockouts though our target remains the same,” Sifuna added.
He added that they expect stiff competition at the group stage from All Saints, who they beat 19-17 in a friendly match though they can’t underrate Mang’u who have been at the last three nationals.
There is also Serani, who will be playing at home. Sifuna also noted that this year’s title could go to any school because even Group B has a strong line up.
“Teams from Western, Rift Valley and Nyanza are very strong and so we don’t expect to have it easy if we qualify for the semis.”
Group B has Vihiga Boys High School from Western, Friends Bwake Boys Secondary School from Rift Valley, Kisii School from Nyanza and Coast’s Marafa Secondary School.
Sifuna will bank on the services of captain and forward Livingston Onyango, Arnold Bushuru and Benjamin Echeru who are also forwards as well as prop Hosea Simiyu and fullback Augustine Oranga.
