USIU players celebrating a past win. [Photo/the-star.co.ke]Former Kenya Cup sides Mean Machine and Western Bulls kick off their new life in the KRU Championship League, hoping to make dream starts in the second tier league as they bid to return to the top tier, Kenya Cup in the coming season.
Both sides coincidentally start off their lives with heavy away fixtures as Mean Machine visits Catholic Monks at the Catholic University of East Africa (CUEA) grounds while Western Bulls make a trip from Webuye to Kisumu to face off with another former Kenya Cup side Kisumu RFC.
Both sides hope to apply their vast experience of playing in the top tier league to grind in victories and amass unassailable points to guarantee them promotion but will have to be at their best to contend with tough tides thrown their way in the championship with ambitious United States International University (USIU) Martial, Catholic Monks, Kisumu RFC, fast-rising Mombasa based side, South Coast Pirates, JKUAT Cougars all standing their way.
As the two teams dropped to start a new life in the championship, two other teams, Ngong RFC and high flying and ambitious Menengai Oilers from the third tier, nationwide league earned promotion and too seek fresh breath and respect in the league as they vow to outdo themselves and win the league in their debut season.
Ngong is at their home ground at Kiboko Secondary to welcome USIU Martials who missed last year’s Kenya Cup slot by a whisker and says it's their year to triumph and return to the top tier league next season. “This season we target to get back stronger and correct our mistakes. We also seek to grow young players in the team and improve on our game plays and structures,” USIU head coach said.