Kenya Cup enters semis with KCB tackling Oilers as Kabras take on Strathmore
Last season’s Kenya Cup finalists KCB would rather lose in the cup finals scheduled for March 12 but not to their repeat playoff rivals, Menengai Oilers, according to league’s top point scorer Darwin Mukidza.
Mukidza told Wikendi Sport the visitors will crumble at the end of 80 minutes today in an afternoon Kabras Sugar also play Strathmore Leos in Kakamega.
“There is no pressure heading into the match because we believe we are ready for this. This is not the first time we have played Oilers and it will not be the last. We respect our opponents because they have returned to the semis against all odds and that definitely makes it a big match and we are going to give it 100 per cent,” KCB captain Mukidza said.
The Bankers are hosting the semis at Ruaraka Grounds for the fifth consecutive time. They handed the Oilers a 35-17 beating in 2021 but the Oilers will still be confident nonetheless after a win in their meeting last month.
In the other semi-finals fixture, Kabras Sugar will need to confirm their 32-3 win against the varsity side Strathmore Leos at the ASK Kakamega Grounds where despite the fact that recent meetings favour the hosts. The hosts will, however, tread with caution because the visitors will have no bragging rights to lose and as such the element of surprise by the visitors could be catastrophic but that will also depend on how the match officials of the day will manage the playoffs in a season marred by murmurs of unfair calls and match interruptions by annoyed fans.
In Kakamega, Dan Kioko will be assisted by Victor Oduor and Beryl Akinyi to officiate the match between wounded hosts and the students while in Nairobi experienced Constant Cap will be assisted by Emmanuel Marete and Anthony Ndong to officiate a match that will carry heavy emotions because Oilers believe they were denied a win through a cancelled try when they played the Bankers who are coming off a win against Kabras at the same venue.
Kabras loose head prop Ephraim ‘DeadPool’ Oduor told Wikendi Sports the students will need a special leave after the match.
“All our home games are fired up and we have a solid game plan that should win us the title this season so it will be a good day at work to redeem ourselves and maintain the focus when we host the finals,” said Oduor.
