Champs KCB, Homeboyz clash as Nakuru seek Kabras Sugar scalp

Jasper Ochieng of Kabras charges forward with the ball past Isaac Waweru of Mean Machine during this year’s Great Rift 10-a-side rugby tournament at the Nakuru ASK Showgrounds on March 26, 2016. PHOTO | SULEIMAN MBATIAH |

What you need to know:

  • Impala, Harlequin await winners of Saturday’s matches in semis proper semis
  • Homeboyz host defending champions Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) at the Jamhuri Park showground where the winner will play Impala in the semi-finals.
  • Kabras Sugar, last year’s losing finalists, have a date with two-time champions Nakuru at Kakamega Showground with the winner proceeding to the other semi-final where they will face Kenya Harlequins.
  • Kabras Sugar and Nakuru have met twice this season with the supermen losing the first leg 16-5 at home before taking revenge 33-26 away.

It will be battle royale when Kenya Cup semi-final play-offs go down in Nairobi and Kakamega this weekend.

Homeboyz host defending champions Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) at the Jamhuri Park showground where the winner will play Impala in the semi-finals.

Kabras Sugar, last year’s losing finalists, have a date with two-time champions Nakuru at Kakamega Showground with the winner proceeding to the other semi-final where they will face Kenya Harlequins.

Impala completed the first phase with a top of the table performance with 80 points drawn from 16 wins and three loses. It was the first time Impala, who are chasing their 11th Kenya Cup title, topped the table since winning their last crown in 2009.

Eight-time champions Quins, who last won the diadem in 2012, finished second with 78 points after winning 16 times and lost three matches. Kabras Sugar and Homeboyz wound third and fourth with 69 points each as KCB and Nakuru sealed the play-off places with 67 and 66 points respectively.

Interestingly, Homeboyz, Kabras Sugar and Nakuru have the same ownership affiliation. Menengai Oil Refineries have sponsored Homeboyz and Nakuru under their Soap Cream and Top Fry brands while Kabras Sugar is part of the refineries set up.

It will be the third time Homeboyz and KCB are meeting this season with the Deejays winning the first leg 27-22 before the bankers turned the tables 25-14 in the second leg. They also met twice last season where KCB carried the day 41-5 in Kenya Cup and 28-0 in Enterprise Cup final.

Kabras Sugar and Nakuru have also met twice this season with the supermen losing the first leg 16-5 at home before taking revenge 33-26 away.

ONE CHANGE

Homeboyz coach Simon Odongo has made one change, welcoming back Kenya Sevens star Calvin Otieno to the squad that edged out Quins 27-25 last Saturday, while his KCB counterpart Curtis Olago has maintained faith in his squad that lost to Nakuru 21-13.

“It felt good beating them (KCB) in the first leg and that is the feeling we want to experience again,” said Odongo. “There are no short cuts to victory. We must down to work.”

“We took our chances when we beat them but our side was depleted when we lost to them, having had many players in Kenya Sevens and on injury list,” said Odongo. “I expect a good game.”

Skipper Emmanuel Mavala and Philip Ikambili will lead Homeboyz attack with playmaker Kelvin Masai and Maxwell Kang’eri calling the shots at the backline.

Olago said the side with great character will win the tie. “These are brilliant sides but our opponents fancy open play which we intend neutralise,” said Olago.

Nakuru’s coach Dominic Habimana has made one change replacing ailing centre Dennis Omondi with Javan Murai. “It’s going to be a tough match but we are looking good after having worked hard to refine all the departments,” said Habimana.