Kenya Cup resumes with revamped and depleted teams

Mwamba will be without their winger Dennis Ombachi and utility back Shaban Ahmed as they host champions Kabras Sugar when the second phase of Kenya Cup gets under way on Saturday in Nairobi and Nakuru.

Interestingly, Kabras Sugar have drafted in sensational Ugandan fly-half Philip Wokorach and back-row Fijian Lekima Tuidraki, who start against Kulabu in a match that will be played at Railway Club, Nairobi.

Mwamba will be seeking to overturn the first leg’s 20-11 defeat they suffered at the hands of the sugar men in Kakamega.

Long range try scorer Ombachi moves to Nondescripts who have a tricky battle against visiting Blak Blad of Kenyatta University at the Jamhuri Park show grounds.

League champions Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), will be out to affirm their prowess against hosts Nakuru, who they crushed in the first leg 33-3 in Nairobi.

Mwamba, on the other hand, have signed three players; former Strathmore Leos centre Patrick Ruhiu, Laiser Hill alumni Daniel Taabu and Ronnie Omondi from Masaku.

Ruhiu should enrich Kulabu‘s midfield that has Marcus Muriithi, Brad Owako, Felix “Top Dog” Otieno and returning Vincent Jumba in the midfield.

Strathmore, who have lost more than 15 players, face a tough outing against Impala Saracens at Impala Sports Club while Homeboyz host Kenya Harlequin in one of the double-headers at Jamhuri Park.

Both Impala and Quins won their first leg matches against their opponents 24-12 and 31-24 respectively.

“When a player decides to move, you can’t hold on to them. We wish Ombachi and Ahmed well,” said Mwamba coach Kevin “Bling” Wambua.

Wambua predicted a physically tough encounter against Kabras Sugar but said victory is all that was in his charges minds.

“It won’t be easy considering that Kabras had a camp and are man-up in terms of physicality,” Wambua said.

“But we have been working on our strength and fitness.”

Tuidraki joins a big number of fellow Fijians in the Kabras side. They are utility forwards Jonasa Dulo and Suliasi Tavodi and centre Peter Nakarawa, who joined at the start of the season and Kenya Cup winners forward Sava Racigi, full back John Kubu and scrum half John Navuso.

“The phase was tough after we had a close one against Mwamba. It shows how competition has improved with no easy opponents,” said Kabras Sugar deputy coach Anthony Ogot.

“Ahmed is an exciting player and we hope he will fit in our systems fast and well,” said KCB coach Curtis Olago. “This is a marathon and we are approaching at a game at a time as we plan to collect every points wherever possible”, said Olago.

The eight times Kenya Cup champion Quins, who won the title last in 2012, top the Kenya Cup log with 29 points, two better than KCB while Kabras Sugar are third on 23. The trio are the only sides yet to concede defeat this season. Impala are fourth on 20follwoed by Homeboyz, who wraps up top five with 19 points.

KENYA CUP FIXTURES

Nondescripts v Blak Blad (2pm), Jamhuri Park

Strathmore Leos v Impala Saracens (4pm), Impala Club

Mean Machine v Western Bulls (4pm), UoN

Nakuru v KCB (4pm), Nakuru Athletic Club

Mwamba v Kabras Sugar (4pm), Railway Club

Homeboyz v  Quins (4.15pm), Jamhuri Park