KCB RFC eyeing Kenya Cup glory away in Kabras

KCB RFC will be out hunting for the Kenya Cup glory in the forest as they take on Kabras RFC Saturday afternoon in the Cup final, which will be played at the Kakamega Showground.

The two rugby titans, who will be meeting for the seventh time in the cup final, have had a fair share of their performances in the 2023/24 regular season, with Kabras going unbeaten while KCB facing two setbacks, falling short against Menengai Oilers and Kabras, losing 21-07 and 14-10, respectively.

The Bankers, capitalising on the home advantage, bounced back to a triumphant 21-12 win in the cup semi-finals against the Oilers to secure a slot in the much-awaited final.

The eight-time cup winner KCB last won the trophy in 2021 after dismantling the Sugar Men with a narrow win of 28-25 at the den. 

The Bankers have missed out on the coveted title in the last two seasons after being edged out by Menengai Oilers in the semis in the 2021/2022 season and losing out 19-09 in the finals to Kabras in the 2022/2023 season.

KCB assistant coach Dennis Mwanja, speaking ahead of the clash, noted that the team is on its final touches, sealing all the loopholes that might have caused them in the last encounters.

“Our journey to the final has not been an easy one, but as usual, we will tackle it just like we have tackled another final before. We are going to face a worthy opponent, and I believe that since we are a full house, we will be going to do what we do best,” Mwanja said.

“We are looking forward to a very competitive game. It’s going to be a psychological game, and we are finding the confidence in our squad that we have been building in a while. It is a mixture of youth and experience, and we anticipate an entertaining encounter tomorrow.”

On the squad composition, Mwanja noted that the return of Samuel Asati and Elvis Olukusi, who have been away for a national team, is a booster for the team, given that they are going to face a stronger side in the final.

“We have been rebuilding the squad, and the blend of young blood like Andy Cole and Michael Wamalwa has been a positive addition. They are the team that will be here with us for long, but for now, we are just focusing on maximising their presence and hunger tomorrow,” Mwanja added.