Curtis Olago, the head coach of Kenya’s National Under 20 rugby team, has called on Kenyan rugby fans to continue supporting the young squad despite their recent 48-18 loss to Spain in the World Under 20 Rugby Trophy.
Olago remains hopeful in his charges, describing them as talented individuals with the potential to elevate Kenyan rugby to new heights in the coming years.
“These boys keep improving with each and every game. You know this was only their second game. We are playing well, and we need to keep it positive and continue to play well. We promised you a good performance today (against Spain), but sometimes things happen,” Olago expressed.
The Kenyan team started the match positively, with Gaylord Ngasi scoring a converted try to take a 7-0 lead in the ninth minute. Although Spain responded immediately with a try of their own, closing the gap to 7-5. Ngasi extended Kenya’s lead with another try, making it 12-5. Despite their efforts, the Spaniards showcased their dominance, taking a 17-12 lead.
Faran Juma’s try in the last seconds of the first half narrowed the deficit to 17-15 in favour of Spain. However, the European team dominated the second half, scoring three successive tries, while Kenya managed to respond with a penalty, trailing 38-15. Although Chipu scored another penalty to make it 38-18, Spain ultimately emerged victorious with a final score of 48-18.
Despite the disappointment of the loss, Olago remains optimistic about the future of Kenyan rugby, acknowledging that it will take time before the team’s potential fully blossoms. “Keep on pushing the faith and keep on pushing the boys. We are walking a journey and staying on our path. We have to stay patient,” the coach emphasized.
Spain’s coach, Raul Perez, praised Kenya’s physicality and acknowledged the tough challenge his team faced. “It was a really hard game against Kenya… they are a very physical team. The first half was really hard because Kenya put in all the effort. The boys had to really push hard in the first half… in the second half, it was maybe a different scenario,” Perez said.
In other matches of the day, Uruguay tightened their grip on Pool A with a convincing 51-14 win over Zimbabwe, while Scotland triumphed over the United States with a score of 40-13.
Kenya’s next opponent in Pool A will be Hong Kong, who lost 30-27 to two-time champions Samoa.
Despite the loss, Kenyan rugby fans are encouraged to stand behind their young team as they continue to learn and grow on their rugby journey.
The next round of matches will take place on Tuesday at the same venue, and all eyes will be on the young Kenyan squad as they seek to bounce back and make their nation proud.
