Cup final battle: Nakuru take on KCB for honours of Enterprise Cup at RFUEA grounds today

BY BS MULAVI

Nakuru Top Fry’s Edwine Makori (left) tries to sneak past KCB’s Omuka Allan during their Kenya Cup match at the Nakuru Athletics Club in February. [PHOTO: HENRY KWENYA/STANDARD]

It’s an action-packed weekend as Nakuru RFC take on Kenya Commercial Bank for the finals of the Enterprise Cup at the RFUEA grounds.

According to Nakuru coach Dominique Habimana, this contest will witness a team keep the intensity high throughout the game.

“A final is always more of a mental test,” he said. “Both teams are likely to play at a high intensity, but it is the team that will lose its intensity that will definitely lose the encounter.

“All players must be up to standard, and the minute one player loses focus, that team will definitely dip,” he added.

Habimana said they are expecting a physical battle from the bankers, but they have what it takes to counter it and go a notch higher.

Nakuru are the losing finalists from last year’s competition and they will be hoping they can go one step better than they did last time.

“It has been years since we last won the competition. I think it is time we made amends for that,” Habimana concluded. 

Interestingly, the last time Nakuru won the trophy, they took it over from KCB, who had won the previous year – 2007.

Controversial circumstances

KCB’s last Enterprise Cup came under controversial circumstances in 2012 after the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) awarded them the trophy following failure by Kenya Harlequins, Impala and Nondies to honour their semi-final fixtures due to a row with KRU.

This time, KCB has a chance to win it fair and square in what is expected to be an explosive match against the current league leaders of the Kenya Cup.

The bankers have already won the Impala Floodlit this season and this would be their second 15s trophy if they can overcome Nakuru.

At the beginning of the season, KCB coach Curtis Olago claimed their aim for the season was to be crowned the overall champions of 15s rugby.

He went to the point of stating that the sevens crown they won was a bonus to their season, with their main focus being the 15-aside version of the game.

Teams Line-ups Top Fry Nakuru; 15 Calvin Otieno, 14 Godfrey Mbeya, 13 Edward Okemwa, 12 Kelvin Omiyo, 11 Javan Murayi, 10 Martin Muita, 9 Gibson Weru, 8 Dalmas Chituyi, 7 Charles Onyago, 6 Nick Lang’o, 5 Philip Owuor, 4 Edwins Makori (captain), 3 Isaiah Nyariki, 2 Sammy Warui, 1 Joseph Odero.

Replacements: 16 Coleman Were, 17 Richmond Barasa, 18 Maina Kang’ethe, 19 Fromillah Mulama, 20 Mike Shioso, 21 Victor Shigoli, 22 steve Okumu, 23 Cassius Omollo Head Coach: Dominique Habimana.

KCB: 15 Jacob Ojee,14 Edwin Salamba (captain), 13 Brian Omondi, 12 Ken Moseti, 11 Allan Omuka 10 Essau Otieno, 9 Peter Mutai, 8 Dwayne Aswani, 7 Anthony Ogot, 6 Philip Wamae, 5 Brian Sagara, 4 Francis Mwita, 3 Dennis Mukabi, 2 Peter Karia, 1 Steve Wakaya.

Replacements: 16 John Ahenda, 17 Edwin Alubaka, 18 Ian Indimuli, 19 Dennis Mwanja, 20 Peter Waitere, 21 Benjamin Ojemah , 22 Stafford Abeka, 23 Felix Wanjala Head Coach: Curtis Olago