Enterprise Cup: Honours and pride at stake as KCB, Kabras battle at RFUEA

The 2022 Enterprise Cup will be on the line this Saturday afternoon when newly crowned Kenya Cup champions Kabras Sugar RFC, who are also the tournament defending champions, take to the field to once again battle for glory and pride against fierce rivals KCB RFC in the grand finale set to be staged at the RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi.

Being the last game of the 15s season in the country before shifting to the returning 7s Circuit, the two revered teams have a chance of ending their respective seasons on a high in the final cup game.

© Kenya Rugby Union

While the Jerome Muller-coached Kabras have a chance of completing their highly successful season with two trophies, Curtis Olago’s KCB are on a hunting mission to ensure that after being dethroned off their tag as league champions, they do not go a whole season without any trophy to their name.

“We have been giving it our all because this is the only lifeline and the only chance at a trophy we have this season. That is why we want to end the campaign in the best way possible by getting the trophy,” KCB stalwart Andrew Amonde told Mozzart Sport.

“We want to end the season on a high with a double after our Kenya Cup victory. This side is relatively the same that won the semi,” said Kabras Sugar deputy coach Edwin Achayo is quoted on the Nation.

In the final, both sides will have to do without their preferred key starters as all of them will be representing the country in the Kenya Simbas squad that has been sent down to South Africa to take part in the Currie Cup as part of their crucial preparations for the upcoming 2023 Rugby World Cup qualifiers. However, the two sides’ squad depth still promises to deliver a gripping game fit for the occasion.

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For Kabras, Kenya Cup final Man of the Match Jone Kubu, who also finished the season as the league’s top try scorer, will miss the game alongside captain Dan Sikuta, Derrick Ashihundu, Brian Juma, Brian Tanga, Shem Joseph, Joseph Odero, Ephraim Oduor and Kelvin Wekesa who is with Shujaa in Singapore.

For KCB, top points scorer in the 2021/2022 season Darwin Mukidza will miss alongside Vincent Onyala, Jacob Ojee, Samuel Asati, Oliver Mang’eni, Patrick Ouko and Peter Kilonzo.

On their way to the finale, the Sugar Millers knocked out Homeboyz 37-11 in the semi while the Bankers sneaked through with a hard fought 18-20 victory over Impala Saracens

This will be the third time Kabras and KCB are facing off in the final of Kenya’s oldest rugby competition. KCB emerged victorious in 2016 when they claimed a 24-12 win in the final before again staging a successful title defence against the Sugar Men in 2017 with a 27-23 victory at the RFUEA ground.

Homeboyz claimed the title in 2018 with Kabras finally getting it in 2019, beating Impala Saracens 37-7 in the final that proved to be the last one due to Covid-19.

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Elsewhere, the second tier Mwamba Cup final takes place also at 12.30pm at the Nakuru Athletic Club, where hosts Nakuru II will be up against Strathmore Leos II.

Meanwhile, the KRU Nationwide National semi-finals also take place on Saturday with qualification to the second tier KRU Championship at stake for the victorious sides.

Daystar Falcons meet former Kenya Cup side and 1997 Enterprise Cup champions Mombasa at the Daystar University in Athi River while Kitale RFC host Zetech University at the Equip College in Kitale.

Fixtures

Enterprise Cup Final

Kabras Sugar v KCB |12.30pm| RFUEA Ground

Mwamba Cup Final

Topfry Nakuru II v Strathmore Leos II |12.30m| Nakuru Athletic Club

KRU Nationwide National Semifinals

Daystar Falcons v Mombasa |2.00pm| Athi River

Kitale v Zetech University | 2.00pm| Equip College