How Menengai Oilers are using data analysis to improve performances

Menengai Oilers’ impressive run across both 15s and 7s rugby this past season is by no accident after enjoying a stellar run in both formats of the game.

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In 15s, Oilers reached the Kenya Cup final for the second time in their budding history, booked their maiden Enterprise Cup final appearance, and captured their first-ever Eric Shirley Shield (ESS) title. ,

Earlier, they had also lifted the 2024 Impala Floodlit crown after crushing hosts Impala RFC 42–3.

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Their success extended to the shorter format, where they finished third in the 2025 National 7s Circuit overall standings. Though they reached only one final: the Christie 7s, where they fell 19–5 to KCB, their consistency spoke volumes.

The Oilers made four semifinal appearances in Embu, Christie, Prinsloo, and Dala 7s, and only stumbled at the quarterfinal stage in Driftwood and Kabeberi 7s.

But behind their remarkable run has been a structured, data-driven approach that reflects the modern demands of elite sport.

According to the club’s head of 7s program, Geoffrey Ominde, the Oilers have embraced performance analysis to sharpen their tactics, improve execution, and gain an edge over opponents.

“Feedback is very important in whatever you do, and in sport, it makes all the difference. Video analysis and data give you a clear and honest reflection of your performance, what you did well, what you can improve on, and how you match up against your opponents,” Ominde told Mozzart Sport.

The soft-spoken tactician went on to list the benefits of data analysis, emphasising its importance in the competitive modern sport.

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“Through analysis, you get to know your opponents’ weak points, how they usually start the game, how they execute set-pieces, and how their defensive and attacking shapes shift during different phases of play,” Ominde explained.

“Modern sport has moved beyond just talent and physicality; right now, it is heavily driven by data and analysis. We are in a high-performance environment where every detail counts, and that makes analysis something you simply cannot overlook if you want to compete at the highest level,” he continued.

Their latest outing at the Rift Valley Challenge tournament in Kampala, Uganda, also showcased their continuous improvement. The Oilers edged hosts Black Pirates in a friendly match that doubled up as a preseason test ahead of the upcoming campaign.

Ominde credited the team’s analytical approach and unity for the impressive performances, noting that the process has been as important as the results. With the 15s season now kicking off, Ominde noted that the technical bench would support Gibson Weru as they seek another historic performance.

“Before the circuit began, we set clear targets, and finishing in the top three was one of them. I can confidently say we have ticked most of our boxes. Gibu (head coach Gibson Weru) needs our support, and as a team, we are always ready to stand by him,” he said.

The Oilers will start their Impala Floodlit title defense on Saturday, 18 October, against five-time champions KCB Rugby.