Who will blink first? KCB, Kabras face-off in Kenya Cup final
What you need to know:
- Coaches leave nothing to chance in fight for supremacy in the local league.
- Bruising battle beckons at Ruaraka as bankers chase sixth title against the former champions.
Champions Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) and Kabras Sugar have kept faith in their players who turned out in the semi-final matches going into their epic Kenya Cup final on Saturday at KCB Ruaraka grounds in Nairobi.
KCB, who are chasing a sixth Kenya Cup, have made only one change from the squad that beat Impala Saracens 15-0 in the semi-finals. Head coach Curtis Olago had replaced Kenya Sevens inside centre Arthur Owira with Collins Wanjala in his squad that has all the players who featured in their 41-12 victory against Kabras in the regular season on February 24.
Although Kabras have retained the squad that beat Homeboyz 29-13 in the semi-finals, coach Charles Cardovillis’ squad will have eight players who didn’t play in their 41-12 loss at KCB.
And the stage is set for an explosive battle as Kabras, who won the Kenya Cup title in 2015/2016 season in their second appearance in the top-flight league, are out to claim their first win against the bankers.
The two teams have met in the Kenya Cup final twice - in the 2014/2015 and 2016/2017 seasons - with KCB winning 27-3 and 36-8 respectively. Cardovillis is out to lead his team to a first victory when the teams meet a seventh time on Saturday.
“The most important thing is that the players have learnt from their mistakes, having analysed their systems both on-and-off the pitch the previous seasons,” said Cardovillis. “It will be about mental strength. We’ve always had a good squad but we have often failed to clear the KCB hurdle.”
TOUGH BATTLE
Cardovillis said he believes he has a squad that will match KCB’s burly but neat forwards. “We only need to play at the right places on the pitch, stay composed by avoid to panic and improve our executions and attacks,” said Cardovillis.
KCB’s team manager Ronnie Kangeta said the final is bound to be a difficult affair, adding that history won’t count although his team has beaten Kabras Sugar in all six past meetings. He reckons the team that will settle down first and display good mental strength will carry the day.
“We shall need to take our chances as we get them,” said Kangeta adding that discipline will also be key so as to avoid penalties and their kicking kingpin Phillip Wokorach.
Wokorach, who comes up against Darwin Mukidza of KCB, is among Kabras players to watch out for, having converted two tries and kicked five penalties from tight angles in the semi-finals. Tight-head prop and skipper Curtis Lilako leads his strong forward pack of loose head prop Oscar Simiyu, hooker Peter Karia, second rows Nick Ong’eri and Oliver Mang'eni and flankers Davis Chenge and Brian Nyikuli.
STAR-STUDDED TEAMS
On the opposite side are props Hosea Ngesa and Andrew Mugerwa, hooker Colman Were and second row Andrew Choge and Hillary Odhiambo.
It will be interesting to see how Steve Oluoch and George Nyambua will fair against Chenge and Nyikuli.
Kabras eighthman skipper Max Adaka has Peter Waitere on the opposite while KCB will have scrum-half Mike Wanjala and fly-half Shaban Ahmed going against Edwin Achayo and Kevin Keegan.
Jacob Ojee and Adrian Opondo will be on KCB’s wings with Felix Ayange and Brian Tanga doing duty for Kabras. Kelvin Omiyo and Johnston Mungau will operate from the centre for Kabras up against Brian Omondi and Peter Kilonzo.
