Kabras Sugar head coach issues postmortem of tumultuous 2025 National 7s Circuit

For a team that thrives on dominance, Kabras Sugar RFC’s 2025 National Seven Circuit run was anything but sweet.

A fourth-place finish, a single final appearance, a pool-stage crash-out, and the desperate reliance on youthful energy summed up their campaign.

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The Sugarmen, who had finished runners-up in last year’s circuit under the guidance of former Kenya Sevens ace Felix Ayange, failed to replicate that form, settling for a fourth-place finish this time around.

The season began with high expectations under new head coach Marlin Mukholwe, before Carlos Kyatwa, fresh from his duties with the Kenya Simbas at the Rugby World Cup qualifiers, took charge towards the end of the circuit. He oversaw the team during the Kabeberi and Dala 7s tournaments.

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A Rocky Campaign

Kabras opened with promise, bagging third place at the Driftwood 7s in Mombasa for 17 points. But their momentum quickly dipped, finishing sixth at the Prinsloo 7s in Nakuru (10 points) and eighth at the Christie 7s in Nairobi (8 points).

The Christie outing was their lowest point. The defending champions failed to progress beyond the pool stage after back-to-back defeats to Daystar Falcons (17-12) and Menengai Oilers (5-0), salvaging only one win against Ugandan side Ruga Ruga Select.

At the Embu 7s, Kabras were once again halted by KCB at the quarterfinal stage, earning 12 points, before the same rivals knocked them out in the Kabeberi 7s semifinals.

Their finest moment came at the Dala 7s, where they reached the final as defending champions but fell 12-5 to the relentless KCB.

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Fatigue Factor

The demanding schedule loomed large over Kabras’ season.

Core players such as William Mwanji, Derrick Ashiundu, Kevin Wekesa, Brian Mutua, and Brian Tanga had been involved in a gruelling calendar; from the 2024/25 Kenya Cup in April, to a high-performance camp in South Africa, the Rugby Africa Cup in Uganda, and, for some, international duty with Shujaa at the HSBC SVNS.

“At the same time, some of our players need rest, and we must manage that within our program. Rest is crucial so they don’t burn out or fall behind,” coach Kyatwa told Mozzart Sport.

Rise of the Youngsters

If there was a silver lining, it was the emergence of Kabras’ next generation. Youngsters like Roy Maruti, Rayvon Ambale, Jackson Siketi, and Michael Lukusi were fast-tracked into the system, a move Kyatwa considers a milestone for the club’s future.

“We are heading in a new direction as a club. One of my main priorities has been to nurture young talent, and I believe we have successfully made strides in that area,” the South African gaffer said.

“In the past, it was rare to see a player move straight from high school into the first team, but today we have achieved that. Nearly 90% of our young players have stepped in and immediately experienced winning.

The challenge now is helping them understand that sustaining success also means learning how to lose,” he continued.

Lessons from Defeat

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Kyatwa believes that the tough season has been a humbling yet valuable experience.

“We had lost our grounding as a team. For a while, we were on cloud nine, thinking we were untouchable. But reality has humbled us.

That is the nature of sport; sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Now our players must truly grasp what it takes to win consistently, because victory is never automatic; it’s a process,” he explained.

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Eyes on the Future

Despite the turbulent campaign, Kabras remain optimistic. Kyatwa assured fans that the team will return stronger. He emphasised that they are driven not only by the pursuit of trophies but also by the pride of representing Kakamega and inspiring the next generation.

“There is no turbulent season ahead for Kabras. We remain committed to keeping the badge at the high standards we found it, for our sponsors, our fans, and our community.

We know we carry the pride of Kakamega, and we are determined to prove it remains a rugby stronghold,” Kyatwa said.

“We play not only for ourselves, but for the mama mboga, the young boy or girl in neighbouring schools, and every fan who looks up to us. Our fans have endured a lot of banter this season, but they’ve stood by us,” he said.

Heading to the 15s season, where Kabras are the defending Kenya Cup and Enterprise Cup champions, Kyatwa had one message: “And one thing I can assure you, come April 2026, Kabras will be in Kakamega, playing in the finals,” he concluded.