USA-based William Otondi is set to make his debut for Chipu when Kenya takes on neighboring Uganda in the quarterfinals of this year’s U20 Barthes Trophy at the Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Otondi, who plays for Binghamton University in the USA National Collegiate Rugby Div 1-AA national competition, will start at the base of the scrum and will be joined in the loose forwards by Captain Laban KIbsang’ and Iddo Kuta. Strathmore Leo’s Stanislaus Shikoli and Eugene Etale are in the engine room.
Kenya has four returning players in the squad and all but David Mwangi make it to Curtis Olago’s starting 23 for this particular match against Uganda. Felix Chacha, another one of the returnees, is the day’s starting second five-eighth and is joined by Mike Wamalwa. Patrick Wainaina and Eddy Wambugu will forge a playmaking partnership at Scrumhalf and the first five-eighth respectively.
In an earlier interview, Otondi expressed his excitement at representing Kenya at the continental showpiece terming it an accomplishment. He will be looking to gel in fast with his teammates seeing as Uganda can prove a tricky customer despite Kenya easily dispatching their neighbors 54–20 last time out.
Meanwhile, Kenya’s opponents have also released their 23 to face the former U20 Barthes Trophy champions in the crunch tie. Fly-half Calvin Gizamba will captain the Junior Rugby Cranes as they look to avoid a false start like their 2022 counterparts.
Here is the rest of Kenya’s 23-man squad:
1. Geylord Ngasi 2. Jeremy Odhiambo 3. Wycliff Ogutu 4. Stanislaus Shikoli 5. Eugene Etale 6. Laban Kipsang’ (C) 7. Iddo Kuta 8. William Otondi 9. Patrick Wainaina 10. Eddy Wambugu 11. Raphael Wanga 12. Chacha Masega 13. Mike Wamalwa 14. Victor Odhiambo 15. Faran Juma 16. Mike Oduor 17. Raymond Chacha 18. Brian Makaya 19. Jacktone Omondi 20. James Asanga 21. Vincent Omondi 22. Brian Mwendwa 23. Kennedy Claude
