Reigning champions KCB out to pile more misery on bottom placed Impala

Eight-time Kenya Cup champions KCB RFC will be seeking to extend their unbeaten start to the 2021/2022 season when they take on bottom of the pile Resolution Impala Saracens at the KCB Sports Club in Ruaraka on Saturday afternoon.

Three games into the campaign, the reigning champions find themselves nine points adrift log leaders Kabras Sugar, who have played an extra game, as their tie against Blak Blad in Matchday Two was awarded as a draw instead of being postponed, leaving them at a disadvantage early on in the season.

Despite the decision, the Bankers are only two points away from the top four playoff places and will be seeking to pile even more misery on an Impala side that has lost all of its four opening matches as they are currently rooted at the bottom of the table where they face early-season relegation worries.

Heading into the match, head coach Curtis Olago has named a strong KCB squad with veteran Andrew Amonde and Jacob Ojee set to make their first starts in the ongoing season.

The front row will consist of Patrick Ouko, Wilfred Waswa and Curtis Lilako while Samuel Asati and Smith Muhoya will be at scrum-half and fly-half respectively with Darwin Mukidza getting in on the right side and Isaac Njoroge playing at fullback.

On the other hand, Oscar Osir will be hoping that his Impala side can at least get their New Year off to a perfect start despite the team facing a daunting task against the reigning champions who will be hunting for points.

Having played big guns Kenya Harlequin, Menengai Oilers, Strathmore Leos and Kabras Sugar in their opening four games, Osir noted that he had seen some commendable attitude change in his side that he hoped would soon reflect on the team’s performances.

“We have had a fantastic attitude change from the team considering how we have been. We are hoping as a club that perhaps that attitude shift also becomes a shift in our fortunes in the league,” the head coach remarked after their outing against Kabras.

Whether they can turn it all around and cause an upset against KCB remain to be another improbable ask. The match kicks off at 1500 EAT.

Kenya Cup Match Day 5, Saturday 8 January 2022

Blak Blad v Mwamba, 1pm, KCB Sports Club, Ruaraka, Nairobi

KCB v Resolution Impala Saracens, 3pm, KCB Sports Club, Ruaraka, Nairobi

Strathmore Leos v Masinde MUliro, 3pm, Strathmore University, Madaraka, Nairobi

Homeboyz v Topfry Nakuru, 3pm, Jamhuri Park, Nairobi

Menengai Oilers v Kenya Harlequin, 3pm, ASK Showground, Nakuru

Kabras Sugar v Nondescripts, 3pm, ASK Showground, Kakamega*