Quins lost 25-13 to Nondies, setting up a heated semi-final playoff replay between both sides next weekend.
Kenya Harlequin head coach Paul Murunga has admitted Nondies 'wanted it more' as his charges tasted defeat to their Ngong Road rivals in the last match of the regular 2023/2024 Kenya Cup action.
Harlequin went into halftime with the lead but were involved in a disappointing collapse after the break.
Fortunately, they had already qualified for the semi-final playoffs, so they virtually had nothing to lose, with Nondies seeking to win by any means to guarantee their place in the playoffs.
18:13 - 09.03.2024
KENYA CUP Nondies silence Quins to set up heated semi-final playoff rematch as Mwamba fail guarantee play off spot with Nakuru loss
Nondies beat Quins in the last match of the regular season league action to finish fourth and set up a heated semi-final playoff against the same opponents again next week.
Murunga has slammed his charges’ general lethargic display over the course of the match.
“It was a bit tight in the first half and the game could have gone either way, but I think Nondies wanted it more,” Murunga told Pulse Sports.
“They were very aggressive and played well. We kept on making unnecessary mistakes with our knock-ons and not finding touches and we did not utilise our penalties well.
08:32 - 10.03.2024
RUGBY Shujaa scent title as Hong Kong await in cup semi-final in Uruguay
Kenya Sevens are confident of making it back-to-back titles at the 2024 Challenger Series having recovered well to make it to the cup semi-final in Uruguay.
“We decided to scratch and pass, and Nondies capitalised on half chances. They got a drop goal, and an extra three points. We were lethargic.”
Murunga has further questioned his substitutes’ display after they failed to impact the game positively.
“Our substitutes did not up their game and made mistakes in ball handling. I think we thought we were in the playoffs already so they had nothing to lose.”
16:27 - 01.03.2024
RUGBY Shujaa sensation Patrick Odongo reveals why he has been performing excellently despite setbacks in his private life
Odongo lost his mother right before Kenya played in Harare for the Paris 2024 Olympic qualifiers but was still named most valuable player, and recently, his dad was admitted to hospital.
Both sides will meet each other next week in the semi-final playoffs, with the best team set to play one of Kabras or KCB afterwards, and Murunga has challenged his team not to repeat the same mistakes again.
“Next weekend is a playoff. Come next weekend, we have to make sure that we win so that we qualify for semi finals.”