Gibson Weru on reason for Menengai Oilers' strong season start
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Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 25.01.25. | 16:46
The Oilers won their maiden Impala Floodlit Tournament title after defeating hosts Impala RFC
Menengai Oilers head coach Gibson Weru has opened up on the factors behind the team’s impressive start to the 2024/25 Kenya Cup season. The Nakuru-based outfit has not tasted a loss in all the six matches played.
They kicked off the season with an impressive 78-13 victory over Kisumu RFC before handing Strathmore Leos a 38-8 defeat.
Oilers would then heap a 94-9 misery on a hapless Mwamba RFC before ending the year on a high with an 80-17 victory over Daystar Falcons in the Enterprise Cup pre-quarterfinal stage.
They will be looking to extend the fine run when they lock horns with Kenya Harlequin on Saturday 25 January at the RFUEA Grounds.
Speaking to Mozzart Sport, Gibu explained that their solid defense has been the main reason for their impressive performance. The tactician also attributed their strong start to a good pre-season.
The Oilers won their maiden Impala Floodlit Tournament title after defeating hosts Impala RFC 42-3 with Weru optimistic that their resilience would continue to shine through.
“Our defense has been solid, and we’re focused on building on that foundation as we head into this (Quins) match. We put in the hard work physically during preseason, and the team is in great shape.
Mentally, we’ve grown a lot, and everyone understands what’s expected of them, especially when playing away from home,” the former Kenya Sevens star offered.
However, their winning streak will be at stake when they face hungry Quins.
The Paul Murunga-coached side will be looking to bounce back to winning ways after narrowly going down 26-24 to their Ngong Road opponents Nondies RFC last weekend.
“Quins have been dominant in their opening matches, especially in their set pieces. We’ll need to defend well and stay sharp in those areas. We have to be at our very best when we play Quins on Saturday.
It’s an exciting challenge against a quality side, and being an away game makes it even more interesting for us,” Gibu averred.
Despite the outcome of the match, Gibu remained optimistic that his side is in search of continuous improvement. He was pleased with the progress so far, noting that the best was yet to come.
“For us, it’s all about continual improvement—measuring how well we’re progressing in key areas, hitting our targets, and reviewing our performances,” he said.
The former Kenya Sevens star also issued a rallying call to Menengai Oilers’ fans to turn up in plenty and support the team.
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“Our fans have been amazing with their unwavering support. We deeply appreciate them and encourage as many as possible to travel with us and cheer us on this Saturday,” he concluded.
This will be the ninth meeting between the sides since the 2018/19 season. Oilers have won four of the eight matches, with Quins winning the other four.
The Oilers’ last win over the Quins was during the 2021/22 season when they narrowly defeated them 16-15. They will be keen to stage a repeat of the same.
