Kabras RFC - a story of hope and quest to end long suffering in Kenya Cup

The last time Kabras Sugar RFC lifted the Kenya Cup title, it was their first and only trophy in the top flight till date.

At that time in May 2016, a 5-22 win against Impala Saracens helped the team clinch their maiden trophy as they became only the second side out of Nairobi, after Nakuru RFC, to ever lay their hands on the Kenya Cup diadem.

What followed since then has been a series of constant pain, torture and turmoil for the sugar millers.

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From the 2016/2017 season, the team made it to every of the five championship finals that have been contested. But on each occasion, the Lurambi based side, who boast of playing 'sugar sweet rugby', were made to fetch their tears as eight time champions KCB emerged victorious in all of the five title deciders.

The most recent one, last season, seeing the Bankers dole out excruciating pain to Kabras as they raced from 20-0 at half time before stunningly recording a 25-28 sudden death extra time comeback win over their bitter rivals who capitulated in extraordinary fashion.

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If it helps anything, KCB will be the least of Kabras' worries heading into this season's Kenya Cup final.

This is after their opponents in the 2021/2022 championship decider, Menengai Oilers, put in an odd defying performance in the semifinals as they knocked out the reigning champions 17-24 to book a first ever appearance in the Kenya Cup finals in their history under head coach Gibson Weru.

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Having lost last season's title to KCB, current South African head coach Jerome Muller, who came into the side in 2021, lost his first finals with the club. A bitter memory that solely drives the coach as he prepares to lead his side into a second final under his spell.

"It has been an incredible journey working with the players. We lost my first finals but now it is time to redeem myself," the coach confidently tells Mozzart Sport after the team's captain run at the Bull Ring Arena in Kakamega.

In facing Oilers in the finals this season, Kabras will be coming up against a side not named KCB for the first time since 2016.

Although that might have come as a surprise to many lovers of the sport, it is what it is.

As Kabras live with the tag of being the favourites heading into the clash, their head coach reveals his headspace.

"Look, I am a rugby man. I grew up in a rugby family and I take rugby very seriously. I hate losing. The boys have trained really hard this week and I am really looking foward to the game," said Muller, who played for Western Province, Free State Cheetahs and South Western District Eagles in South Africa.

After an almost six year cup drought that has seen the team always play second fiddle to Curtis Olago's KCB, Muller knows very well the chance the team has on Saturday.

For him, nothing matters as much as repaying all the support their fans have always shown them despite enduring banter, ridicule and humiliation from their noisy opponents who have rode on success at their expense in six out of six times they have met in the finals.

As they plan of lifting their second ever title in the Kenya Cup history, Muller sharply thinks about their fans and their community.

"Winning the trophy will be good for the community at first. For the whole of Kakamega at large. We also need to do this for the fans. They have stuck with us through all the losses and they are still with us. So we must do it for the fans," Muller, who also plied his trade in Italy for one season and in Ireland for six seasons before retiring in 2007, remarks.

On paper, Kabras take on a slightly easier task compared to the prospect of coming up against KCB who defeated them 28-20 in the regular phase this season.

While many believe they have a slightly softer cud to chew, the head coach is not giving any room for his side to put the foot off the pedal in their mission.

The showpiece event between the two sides is a clash of bragging rights as it is dubbed the 'Rai Derby'. Both companies are owned by billionaire businessman Jaswant Rai who is the board chairman with his sons Onkar and Tejveer being managing directors at Oilers and West Kenya Sugar respectively.

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With that prospect in mind, Muller knows the clash is not as easy as many may assume.

"Oilers is not just a small team. They are a big team. And on top of that, they are our sister team. We have prepared the best we could for any other team. It is a Derby which happens to be our biggest match of the season. All through the entire campaign, save for the match against KCB, we have won with a bonus point. So if we stick to what we do best, I do not see any problem," the head coach backs his side who have won all four of their meetings with their opponents.

With just hours left before new Kenya Cup champions are crowned, Muller signs off in style, hoping to see his side hand him a first title in Kenya and for the team to go back to the top where they should belong.

"Coming to the front door and just not going through or taking the door down is not good enough, we need to focus on what we can do best to win the final. I would like to be associated with being a winner. That is what I am always telling the players also. You must aim for higher and better. That is why we play rugby and that is why we want to be better in every match. Same with this one tomorrow. We want to better ourselves and win," the head coach concludes.