'You’ll need miracle to dethrone us in final'

When Kabras Sugar Rugby Club hosted Kenya Cup champions Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) at the Kakamega Showground on December 3, 2016, the sugar millers came closest to beating the bankers for the first time.

But Kabras Sugar, fondly known among its fans as ‘Tang Tang’ squandered the chance in the first leg of the Kenya Cup rugby league to settle for a 15-15 draw.

KCB claimed a slim 22-17 victory in the return leg at Ruaraka in Nairobi on January 28, and went on to triumph 36-8 in the grand finale on April 22 at the same venue.

Interestingly, even when Kabras Sugar won the Kenya Cup title for the first time in the 2015/2016 season courtesy of a 22-5 success against Impala, they had lost 40-15 to KCB in the regular season.

KCB and Kabras Sugar have met nine times since the 2014/2015 season, the bankers winning on eight occasions, including in the 2014/2015 final.

Heading to Saturday’s final in Kakamega, KCB have again warned Kabras Sugar that the team will have to do something special to claim a maiden win victory against the bankers, the sugar millers’ home ground advantage notwithstanding.

“Our preparations that started with our pre-season training in South Africa are based on three attributes - skill level, structures and mindset,” said KCB coach Curtis Olago.

“We are fine in those three departments and what we are doing right now is clarity.”

Olago has downplayed claims of pressure on his players, saying that it’s Kabras Sugar who will be under pressure to win since they will be out to prove a point, being on home ground.

“I know how that pressure feels like. I have played in three finals at home. I am happy that for once, I will not be playing at home and I want to see how Kabras will react at the Forest,” Olago said, in reference to playing at Kakamega Showgrounds.

Olago said his players know what to do in the match. “They know what is at stake. We have done the hard work to retain the title… it’s as simple as that,” explained Olago, who commended their sponsors KCB Bank, his technical bench and fans, among others, for working tirelessly to again put the team in the final.

“It’s all about keeping the wheel moving and it takes a lot of effort from many people.”

KCB skipper Curtis Lilako said that the two teams are physical, have burly forwards and skilled backs.

“We should expect a balanced game of hard hits, wide running and calculated kicks,” said Lilako, adding that they will stick to their superlative defence that has won matches for them.

“They say attacks wins games but defence wins championships,” said Lilako.

“Our defence has basically brought us this far and our mindset is on that.”

Lilako, who downplayed their past record against Kabras, explained that they shall work to deny Kabras chances in the match, especially on penalties because of Kabras Sugar’s astute kickers.

“We also know how swift they are in line-outs and maul. If we can manage to have a good shape in our defence and capitalise on our attacks, then we shall have a good game,” explained Lilako.

“We leave history for the books since it won’t count. We are keeping our minds fresh.”