Kabras Sugar and KCB have served up entertaining clashes ever since their first Kenya Cup clash close to a decade ago.
Some of these clashes have determined the destination of league titles, others have served up opportunities for the vanquisher to lord it over the vanquished.
Saturday 18 February 2023 serves up another episode of this long standing rivalry when the two sides clash at the KCB Sports Club in Ruaraka in what is without a doubt the highlight fixture on Kenya Cup Match Day 10.
These two sides are in fine form heading into this clash. KCB are top of the log on 45 points, having registered nine bonus point wins in nine consecutive league outings to date. Defending champions Kabras Sugar are second on the log on 44 points, also having won nine from nine but have collected one less bonus point, and have conceded the least amount of points this season.
They both warmed up for this clash, a probable final before the final, with massive victories on Match Day 9.
KCB won on the road, defeating hosts Menengai Oilers 62-15 in Nakuru as Kabras Sugar registered a 47-6 home victory over Strathmore Leos in Kakamega.
The last meeting between the two sides took place at the same venue 51 weeks ago, KCB winning that clash 28-20 on 26 February 2022. Kabras would, despite the loss, proceed to win the 2021/22 Kenya Cup title.
That is now water under the bridge, and there is very little to separate the two most dominant club sides in Kenyan rugby over the past decade, both sides abundantly blessed with experience and talent within their rosters.
For KCB, they will look to the likes of Curtis Lilako, Oscar Simiyu, Martin Owilah, Peter Waitere, Felix Ojoo and Andrew Amonde in the forwards while key players in the bankers’ backline include Samuel Asati, Darwin Mukidza, Jacob Ojee, Elphas Adunga and Mike Kimwele.
For Kabras, the likes of Hilary Mwanjilwa, Asuman Mugerwa, Eugene Sifuna, Dan SIkuta and George Nyambua will be vital for them in the forwards as Jone Kubu, Ntabeni Dukisa, Alfred Orege and Walter Okoth will be some of their go to guys in the backs.
This game will be won and lost at the breakdown.
Both sides have very aggressive loose forwards and they certainly will be engaged in the most volatile contests of the game as they look for a quick recycle while on the offensive.
They will also seek to apply defensive pressure and maybe force a significant number of turnovers and forced penalties.
The importance of both backlines cannot be overlooked. Kabras will took to the trio of Dukisa, Kubu and Brian Tanga to make inroads into KCB territory while the bankers will certainly look up to Asati, Mukidza and Adunga to ask questions of their opponents.
It definitely promises to be a hard fought fixture with pole position of the Kenya Cup log at stake for the victorious side.
