Kenya Cup final: Samuel Asati on how KCB is plotting to dethrone Kabras

KCB Rugby scrum half Samuel Asati believes the Bankers have what it takes to dethrone defending champions Kabras Sugar RFC when the two sides clash in the Kenya Cup final on Saturday, 9 May at the ASK Kakamega Showground.

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The talented number nine has emerged as one of KCB’s key players this season and is confident the former champions are ready to reclaim the title they last won in 2021.

Asati was named Man of the Match the last time the two sides met in the Kenya Cup regular-season clash on Saturday, 7 March, a contest that ended 10-10 after heavy rains forced the game to be stopped at halftime.

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Now, with the title on the line, the scrum half says KCB’s main priority will be sticking to their systems and executing their game plan effectively.

“Heading into the final, our main focus will be on ourselves and how we execute our game. We believe that if we stay disciplined and stick to our structure, then everything else will fall into place,” Asati told Mozzart Sport.

“It’s about trusting the systems we’ve built throughout the season and making sure we deliver when it matters most.

We also know that having that extra finishing power will be crucial, especially in a high-stakes match like this. We must be prepared to push ourselves to the limit and stay in the contest right up to the final whistle,” he continued.

KCB booked their place in the final after a dominant 52-7 victory over Nondescripts RFC in the semifinal played on Saturday, 25 April, at the KCB Sports Club in Ruaraka.

The Bankers produced an emphatic display despite facing adversity during the match after going down to 14 men at one stage.

Reflecting on the semifinal performance, Asati admitted they expected a difficult encounter against Nondies, especially after the side’s impressive showing against Menengai Oilers in the quarterfinals.

“We had prepared well for Nondies, especially after seeing how they performed against Menengai Oilers. We knew they would come in with confidence, so we expected a very tough match,” he explained.

“Despite going down to 14 men at some point, we remained composed and stuck to our structure, which was very important for us. In the second half, they came back stronger and tested us, but we managed to stay focused under pressure.

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What matters most is that we got the result, and there are valuable lessons we’ve taken from that performance going into the final,” he offered.

KCB head into the final seeking to end Kabras’ dominance of Kenyan rugby after the Sugarmen established themselves as the team to beat in recent seasons.

However, despite acknowledging the challenge ahead, Asati insists they are treating the final like any other game.

“Kabras are a very strong and well-organised side, and they have consistently proven themselves over the years. We respect them as worthy opponents, but we are approaching this final like any other game,” he said.