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Kenya crush UAE as coach Paawater mulls tour squad

Kenya Simbas' Walter Okoth charges past UAE's Max Johnson during their rugby friendly match at RFUEA ground on May 24, 2025.


Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group

By  Ayumba Ayodi

Correspondent

NMG Sport

What you need to know:

  • Kenya will launch their World Cup cum Africa Cup quest in July against hosts Uganda.

Kenya Simbas rallied from 14-0 to crush visiting United Arab Emirates (UAE) 54-24 in a friendly match at the Rugby Football Union of East Africa ground yesterday.

Both teams were using the match as part of their preparations for their respective 2027 Rugby World Cup qualifiers. They fielded different teams in the encounter, which was played over three periods of 30 minutes each.

Simbas' coach Jerome Paawater threw in mostly inexperienced players, mostly from Kenya Sevens, in the first period, where the tourists had a field day scoring two converted tries without reply.

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The Simbas had a sprinkle of experienced players in the second quarter, where Bethwel Anami landed for Eric Kantona to convert as their team trailed 14-7 before UAE extended their lead to 24-14 with a converted try in the second quarter.

Paawater then brought in his top side to starve the visitors of possession as seasoned Elkeans Musonye, Ibrahim Ayoo, Griffin Chao and Bryson Adaka landed a try apiece for the victory.

The Simbas also benefited from a penalty try in the last quarter.

“What I actually did is put the young guys under pressure. Played the first quarter with freshers, guys who have not been there, especially Kenya Sevens players,” said Paawater.

“We brought in some experience in the second period, then the last one was my starting 15.”

Paawater said he had 50 players in camp in Kakamega and he has to whittle them down to 33 ahead of their departure on Wednesday for a high-performance training in South Africa.

Paawater said the match provided vital insights for him to select his tour squad to South Africa.

“It’s tough to tell whether we have the 33 players now since we shall sit down and analyse, but I am happy with what we have achieved so far. We must make a final decision,” explained Paawater, noting that the first quarter had a lot of opportunities for the players but shy from reaching the try line.

“You could see the difference with the guys who played the last quarter, where they scored. We have four weeks to prepare in Cape Town, where we shall play tough games. We shall be ready when we reach Uganda,” said Paawater.

Kenya will launch their World Cup cum Africa Cup quest in July against hosts Uganda.