Homeboyz battle unbeaten Kabras in Kenya Cup

There will be no love lost when Homeboyz confront 2016 champions Kabras Sugar in a crunch Kenya Cup match at Kakamega show ground on Saturday.

Homeboyz, who are enjoying a 4-3 record against Charles Cardovillis’s side, will be out to avenge their 22-17 loss to the sugar millers in last year’s Kenya Cup semi-finals at Jamhuri Park show ground.

Homeboyz head coach Paul “Pau” Murunga has opted to stick to the side that beat Mwamba 29-14 in their last outing, only beefing up his bench with centre Max Kang’eri.

Cardovillis has been forced to replace injured hooker Coleman Were and inside centre Johnston Mungau with Geoffrey Shitambasi and Ugandan international Pius Ogena respectively.

OGENA SET FOR KABRAS BOW

Ogena is making his debut for Kabras, who will also see the return of centre Fabian Olando to the bench from injury.

“We expect an all-out battle both at forwards and backline,” said Murunga. “I have a better and stronger bench than the previous matches. Besides Kang’eri, a former Kenyan Under-20 international, William Diffu has also been drafted into the Deejay’s bench.

Cardovillis is aware of the kind of battle the Deejays will spin in Kakamega hence his intend to tighten the set pieces just like they did against Impala Saracens, a match the sugar millers won 33-17 last weekend.

“Homeboyz are keen on getting a home semi-final and that is why this is a big one for us. We have some good and exciting backs but it will be essential for them to get a good front foot from the forwards to attack,” said Cardovillis.

Kabras are currently placed second with 33 points and are unbeaten in seven outings.

LOST TO KCB

Third-placed Homeboyz have 29 points, having only suffered one loss to champions Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) 26-6. The Deejays have along the way claimed the scalp of big wigs like Quins (41-39), Impala (39-21), Nakuru (23-16) and Mwamba (29-14).

In other matches planned for Saturday, league leaders KCB are favourites against Nondescripts at KCB Sports Club while Quins expect an easy sail against visiting Mombasa at the RFUEA.

A cracker is in the offing between Blak Blad and Impala Saracens, who hope to bounce back from the defeat to Kabras, at Kenyatta University while Strathmore Leos host Nakuru at USIU.

Kisii host Mwamba in Kisii.

MATCH DAY 8 KENYA CUP FIXTURES

KCB v Nondescripts (KCB Sports Club), Kabras Sugar v Homeboyz (Kakamega Showground), Quins v Mombasa (RFUEA), Blak Blad v Impala Saracens (Kenyatta University), Strathmore Leos v Nakuru (USIU), Kisii v Mwamba (Kisii)