KCB open title defence against newcomers Menengai Oilers

Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) have opted to stick with the squad that retained the Impala Floodlit title as they launch their Kenya Cup title defence against newcomers Menengai Oilers on Saturday at the RFUEA grounds.

Save for tight-head prop Nelson Nyandat and fly-half Shaban Ahmed, KCB coach Curtis Olago has kept faith in the side that beat Impala Saracens 20-18 to retain Impala Floodlit three weeks ago.

Olago is seeking to guide KCB to their seventh Cup success, having won three titles in 2015, 2017 and 2018.

Kenya Cup is a different game ball altogether and Menengai Oilers are under no illusions. Former international Gibson Weru’s side have not done massive recruitment for the big league.

Weru - who has also opted to stick to the squad that won promotion to the Kenya Cup - has only recruited former Western Bull's prop Kevin Juma, who will start against KCB.

“I simply don’t know how Oilers will play but its game on. I know they will bring their best, having won the Championship. I respect them for that,” explained Olago, who played down the absence of his 13 players who are away with Kenya Simbas and Kenya Sevens teams.

"We don’t bank on individuals at KCB but rather play as a system. It’s not a dependency issue but fielding a person in his right position,” said Olago.

Weru said their target is to finish in top six and stay in Kenya Cup for another season. “It's ambitious but possible,” said Weru.

Homeboyz, who have lost in two consecutive Kenya Cup semi-finals, hope not only for a better season but also to continue their dominance over their Jamhuri Park Showground neighbours Nondescripts.

Homeboyz will take on Nondies at 2pm before KCB take to the pitch to face Oilers at 4pm in a double-header that will be broadcasted live on Bamba Sport.

Homeboyz coach Simon Odongo, who has 13 players on international assignment, has unleashed former Nakuru fly-half Henry Ayaa on Nondies.

In other matches, Kabras Sugar, who won Kenya Cup in 2016 before finishing second in 2017, take on Mean Machine in Kakamega while Impala Saracens battle it out with Blak Blad at Impala Sports Club. Nakuru visit Strathmore Leos at Madaraka.

Harlequins host Mwamba at RFUEA on Sunday.

The league will be played in two pools of six teams each playing home and away within their respective groups.

The top two teams in the combined log at the end of the regular season will earn direct semi-finals qualification while the teams placed third to sixth will battle it out for the remaining slots in the Top Six playoffs.

Pool “A” has KCB, Homeboyz, Quins, Mwamba, Nondies and Oilers while Pool “B” has Kabras Sugar, Impala Saracens, Strathmore Leos, Nakuru, Kenyatta University’s Blak Blad, Mean Machine from the University of Nairobi.

Top Six playoffs are due April 27 followed by the semi-finals on May 4 and the final May 11.

Additionally, the Enterprise Cup has been intertwined with the league fixtures with the first round set for February and the final taking place May 18, a week after the league final.

FIXTURES

Saturday

KCB v Menengai Oilers (4pm) - RFUEA

Homeboyz v Nondescripts (2pm) - RFUEA

Kabras Sugar v Mean Machine (4pm) - Kakamega

Impala Saracens v Blak Blad (4pm) - Impala

Strathmore Leos v Nakuru (4pm) - Madaraka

Sunday

Kenya Harlequins v Mwamba (4pm) - RFUEA