Kenya Cup semifinals: Kabras welcome Nondies as Oilers stand in the way of KCB

The 2023/24 Kenya Cup enters the second last stage; the semifinal with two matches on the cards.

Each team will be fighting tooth and nail to book a spot in the final.

Defending champions, Kabras Sugar, are in familiar territory, marking their ninth consecutive semifinal appearance as they pursue their fourth overall title.

Their dominance throughout the season has been evident, topping the regular season standings flawlessly, winning all 11 matches, including a commanding 40-0 victory over 17-time champions Nondescripts, their opponents in the semifinal at the Kakamega Showground.

With such form, Kabras enter as clear favorites, while Nondies, in their first season back from the second tier, have surprised many by reaching the final four, notably with a dramatic 26-20 win over Kenya Harlequin in the previous weekend's playoff.

Kabras will undoubtedly aim for their trademark explosive start, relying on Ntabeni Dukisa's control at fly half, and George Nyambua's physicality in the forwards.

However, Nondies, led by the resilient eighth man and captain Steve Odhiambo, have proven their mettle and will need to dig deep against the defending champions to secure a spot in their first-ever Kenya Cup final.

Meanwhile, at Ruaraka, KCB Rugby and Menengai Oilers will clash for the fourth consecutive time in a Kenya Cup semifinal since 2021.

KCB reached the semis after finishing second in the league phase booking a direct home semi-final.

The Oilers had to go through the playoff where they defeated Blak Blad in Nakuru to qualify.

Their recent encounter on matchday 10 saw the Oilers clinch a 21-7 victory at the Nakuru Showground.

With a final berth at stake, this matchup promises intense competition, with particular focus on the battle between scrum-halves Samuel Asati of KCB and Samson Onsomu of the Oilers, a pivotal factor in shaping the outcome of the fixture.

In the historical context, KCB holds the edge in semifinal encounters against the Oilers, having won the initial meeting 38-20 in 2021, suffering a 24-17 defeat in 2022, and bouncing back with a convincing 35-17 victory in last season's semi final.

Speaking ahead of the match, KCB Rugby’s head coach Curtis Olago noted that they would approach all the games with caution, keen to reclaim the Kenya Cup title.

“We understand the caliber of our rivals, hence we aim to execute (our plan) with precision in every aspect of the game. Our ultimate goal is to reclaim the Kenya Cup title but first, we must eliminate the Oilers from contention."

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The coach noted that they had stepped up training in recent days to ensure they match their opponents’ game.

"We've never ceased our training efforts; we're continuously striving because we understand the immense challenge ahead in our quest to reclaim the title from Kabras. Every stakeholder associated with KCB is resolute in ensuring our victory this season," he said.