TREADING CAUTIOUSLY: Coach warns against complacency as Kabras face Bulls in Kakamega Derby

Meshack Ochieng (right)of Top Fry Nakuru RFC runs with the ball past a Western Bulls player to score a try during a Kenya cup at Nakuru Athletic Club on January 10,2015. Top Fry Nakuru RFC won 39-3PHOTO:KIPSANG JOSEPH

Kenya Cup champions Kabras Sugar are hoping to continue with their dominance over rivals Western Bulls when the two sides clash in today’s Kakamega Derby at the Mukumu Boys High School grounds.

This will be the third meeting between the two sides and the millers have emerged victorious twice (17-6 and 23-13).

The two teams are coming off quite contrasting results. Kabras left it late to edge out Mean Machine 14-13 as Bulls suffered a 31-0 demolition at the hands of Kenya Commercial Bank in the opening round of the 2015/16 Kenya Cup League season last weekend.

But having survived Machine’s scare, Kabras assistant coach Anthony Ogot said they cannot afford to repeat the same mistakes in the derby again.

“Complacency almost cost us against Machine. Everybody knew that it was going to be an easy game and rested our key players. We went on to make a lot of mistakes, but it is good we learned from that game,” Ogot told Feverpitch.

“It’s derby day, but we are just going to take it like any other game. It is an important game for both teams, and as you all know there is no easy game in Kenya Cup. We are playing one game at a time and there is no more room to underrate our opponents. We have put our strong feet forward as we plan to field the best squad available against Bulls.”

And fresh from an emphatic 31-0 victory over Western Bulls, KCB assistant coach Dennis Mwanja has warned his side against complacency as they take on Mwamba at Railway Club.

“We want to go all the way and reclaim all the trophies we lost last session. We are just starting, we cannot thump our chest on the first game of the league. Western Bulls at the moment are not at their best, so we cannot really say that we are such a great side until we face a stern test,” Mwanja said.

“We are now going to face a strong opposition in Mwamba and I think we have polished all the areas that seemed to be wanting especially the mental aspect.

"Last year, we were very complacent when we went to play Mwamba, but I think this year we are better. We will play our strong point; we are strong on the forwards and we are also equipped with the backs. So, we will take them on both ways."

The bankers will have to do without the services of injured fly-half Ken Andola and the trio of captain Andrew Amonde, winger Darwin Mukidza and new signing Martin Owila who are with the Kenya Sevens team in Namibia for the Safland 7s invitational tournament that starts today.

In other matches, Nondescripts and Homeboyz faces off at the Jamhuri ASK Grounds as Strathmore host league leaders Kenya Harlequin in Madaraka.

Kenyatta University’s Blak Blad will entertain Impala in an early kick off (2pm) encounter at Impala Club before paving way for the top bill fixture between hosts Mean Machine and Nakuru at 4pm.