Seeking devine intervention: Kenya cup league enters a crucial stretch
The Kenya cup league enters a crucial stretch with the semi-final matches on Saturday where defending champions KCB will host Menengai Oilers at the KCB Sports Club in Ruaraka while former champions Kabras Sugar host Strathmore Leos at the Nandi Bears Club.
The fixture at Nandi Bears will be a memorable one for the students who defied all odds to finish in the top four after the end of the regular season rounds.
For them, reaching the playoffs in their first season upon returning to the top flight league is an achievement in its own, while for Nakuru based Menengai Oilers, their maiden playoffs appearance since their promotion in 2019 is an indication of hunger for the title coming into the league as underdogs from the KRU Championship league.
Both the minors have proved to be a hard nut to crack this season. Strathmore Leos for instance has made highlights against revered sides such as KCB in their season opening match when they led the Bankers for three quarters of the match while Oilers on the other side lost their match to KCB by a penalty at death just a month ago.
Oilers will be hoping to kick off their match against KCB on a right foot and hope to minimize on their July 17 mistakes whereas the defending champions, very much aware of the threat posed by their opponents, will be looking to score maximum points early in the match for a crucial head start.
Former champions Kabras who are keen to secure the title, are expected to throw everything at the students at their new home ground.
By virtue of finishing the league in top position, Kabras won the right to host the cup final but will first need to go beyond the students who have registered several upsets this season under the tutelage of coach Louis Kisia.
It was in the second round on March 6 when the Leos last met Kabras and they ended up losing the duel 35-9.
