Cardinal Otunga Senior School Mosocho has taken a major step towards claiming the Federation of East Africa Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) Rugby 7s title after producing a remarkable run of victories in Morogoro, Tanzania.
The Nyanza Region champions and national runners-up continued their unbeaten campaign at the Sokoine University of Agriculture, showing determination, resilience and composure to overcome two challenging opponents on Saturday.
The highlight of the day was a 17-14 victory over national champions Butula Boys, followed by another hard-fought 17-15 win against Uganda’s Mbarara High School.
A Statement Victory Against Butula Boys
The victory over Butula Boys was particularly significant for Cardinal Otunga.
Just two weeks earlier, the two Kenyan sides had met in the national final at M-Pesa Foundation Academy, where Butula Boys emerged victorious with a convincing 26-0 scoreline.
This time, however, Cardinal Otunga showed how much the team has grown.
Despite falling behind, the Mosocho boys fought their way back into the contest and eventually secured a 17-14 victory over the national champions.
The result not only avenged their national final defeat but also demonstrated Cardinal Otunga's ability to remain composed under pressure and compete against the very best teams in the region.
Another Comeback Against Mbarara High
Cardinal Otunga's second match of the day was equally demanding.
Uganda's Mbarara High School pushed the Kenyan representatives all the way, but Cardinal Otunga once again demonstrated tremendous fighting spirit to secure a narrow 17-15 victory.
The back-to-back comeback wins underlined the team's character and ability to perform when the pressure is at its highest.
For a team competing against some of East Africa's strongest school rugby programmes, such resilience could prove crucial as the tournament enters its decisive stage.
Perfect Start to the Campaign
Cardinal Otunga's impressive Saturday results added to an already strong tournament campaign.
Earlier, the team defeated fellow Kenyan side Friends School Bokoli 12-0 before recording a convincing 31-5 victory over Tanzania's Elerai.
With four victories from four matches, Cardinal Otunga has established itself as one of the leading contenders for the FEASSA Rugby 7s crown.
The team now has two crucial matches remaining against Uganda's Busoga College and Makerere College.
A victory in both matches would see Cardinal Otunga crowned champions.
Coach Metobo Calls for Focus
Despite the impressive run, head coach Edwin Metobo has cautioned his players against becoming complacent.
Speaking after Saturday's matches, the coach praised the team's performances while reminding the players that the job is not yet complete.
“I want to appreciate the boys for the good job they have done so far; they have ticked all the boxes so far. It’s not yet over because we have two more games to go. We want to finish strong on Monday,” said Coach Edwin Metobo.
The coach also acknowledged the quality of the Ugandan teams still standing in Cardinal Otunga's way.
“We are done with our compatriots from Kenya. We are not underrating the Ugandans at all.”
His message reflects the team's approach going into the final matches: confidence without complacency.
A Battle of East Africa's Best
The FEASSA Rugby 7s competition is being played on a round-robin format, meaning consistency throughout the tournament is critical.
Cardinal Otunga has so far demonstrated exactly that.
While the team has already overcome some of its toughest challenges, the remaining fixtures against Busoga College and Makerere College will determine whether the Mosocho boys can convert their excellent start into regional glory.
Butula Boys, meanwhile, responded strongly after their defeat to Cardinal Otunga, defeating Busoga College 40-0. Friends School Bokoli also recorded a 40-0 victory over Tanzania's Elerai.
These results highlight the competitive nature of the tournament and the quality of opposition Cardinal Otunga is facing.
More Kenyan Teams Making Their Mark
Cardinal Otunga's impressive rugby campaign is part of a wider strong showing by Kenyan schools at FEASSA.
In Rugby 15s, defending champions Kisii School and national champions Upper Hill School maintained their winning starts.
Upper Hill recorded a dominant 52-0 victory over Namilyango College, while Kisii School defeated St Mary's Kisubi 17-0.
St Mary's School Yala also produced an emphatic performance, defeating Tanzania's Elerai 50-0.
In girls' Rugby 15s, national champions Kinale Girls continued their impressive campaign with a 24-8 victory over St Joseph's Kitale.
Kinale Girls' Rugby 7s side also bounced back strongly after losing 12-10 to defending champions Jinja. They defeated fellow Kenyans Kimobo 29-0 before recording a commanding 45-0 victory over Tanzania's Murongoine.
Cardinal Otunga Eyes History
For Cardinal Otunga Senior School Mosocho, the focus now turns entirely to Monday.
Two matches stand between the team and the FEASSA Rugby 7s title.
Having already defeated the Kenyan national champions, overcome a strong Ugandan side and recorded convincing victories against Bokoli and Elerai, Cardinal Otunga has positioned itself within touching distance of regional glory.
The team will need to maintain the same discipline, determination and fighting spirit that has characterised its campaign so far.
The entire Cardinal Otunga fraternity will be watching with pride as the boys return to the pitch, hoping that the final two matches will complete what has already been an outstanding FEASSA campaign.
One thing is certain: Cardinal Otunga is no longer simply chasing the FEASSA Rugby 7s title — the Mosocho boys are firmly in control of their own destiny.