Kenya Cup: Can enterprising Oilers cause an upset against reigning champions KCB?

When Menengai Oilers set foot at the KCB Sports Club on Saturday afternoon to take on reigning champions KCB RFC in one of the two Kenya Cup semifinals, only one thing will be on their mind – how to finally get a win against the Bankers.

For the last two seasons, the Gibson Weru-coached side has not tasted any victory against Curtis Olago’s men both in the regular season and in the playoffs. Having finished in the third position like last season’s campaign, the Nakuru based side set up a repeat semifinal clash against the eight-time champions who knocked them out at the same stage as they completed their four-peat.

This time though, a much more enterprising Oilers will be positive about facing KCB for the second time after asking a few hard questions or two of the Bankers’ in their regular game of the season. Despite KCB winning on the day, it was only five points that separated the two sides as the match ended 23-18.

Kenya Cup Semis: Revamped Strathmore Leos dream

Buoyed by that performance, Weru who was convinced that his team currently has what it takes to challenge the status quo, emphasized that they will use the lessons from that loss in their bid to go for an upset as they chase their first-ever final since promotion in the 2017/2018 season.

“The KCB match was a game that we put in a lot of effort but we still came up short. However, I will take the confidence from that game and build-up for the next one. There are definitely a few areas that we needed to improve but the boys did show that they can play at the same level with KCB or even better,” the head coach said.

On the other hand, the experienced KCB, who are chasing to become only the second side to win five titles in a row after the departed Nondescripts, will be hoping to do what they know how to do best – win.

The reigning champions come into the playoffs as the only unbeaten team in the 2021/2022 campaign and will be looking to maintain their dominance in the clash against Oilers as they eye a fifth consecutive final since 2017.

The match kicks off at 1500 EAT.

KCB Rugby: 1. Patrick Ouko 2. Wilfred Waswa 3. Curtis Lilako 4. Davis Chenge 5. Oliver Mang’eni 6. Steve Wamai 7. Andrew Amonde 8. Peter Waitere 9.Samuel Asati 10. Shaban Ahmed 11. Alvin Otieno 12. Max Kangeri 13. Peter Kilonzo 14. Jacob Ojee 15. Darwin Mukidza

Replacements: 16. George Asin 17. Oscar Simiyu 18.Derrick Juma 19. Manaseh Oduor 20. Felix Ojoo 21. Michael Wanjala 22. Vincent Onyala 23. Johnstone Olindi

Menengai Oilers: 1.Edward Mwaura 2. Coleman Were 3. Vincent Mwikhali 4.Wallace Onyango 5. Brian Sinei 6.Nickson Ochieng 7.Clinton Odhiambo 8.Chrispine Shitundo 9.Andrew Odero 10. Geoffrey Ominde 11. Beldad Ogeta 12. John Okoth 13. Dennis Abukuse 14. Sikutwa Austin 15. Davis Nyaundi

Replacements: 16. Stanley Isogol 18. Francis Atiti 18. Destorius Ifedha 19. Ibrahim Ayoo 20.Brian Ndirangu 21. Kevin Mburu 22. G Otieno 23.Eugene Lubanga