Kenya Cup: KCB tackle Western Bulls

Samuel Asati (R) of KCB tackle Sanchez De La Rosa of Spain during their Tusker Safari Sevens 2019 match at RFUEA Grounds on October 19, 2019. KCB won 24-7. [Photo/Stafford Ondego/www.sportpicha.com]

It is a David versus Goliath contest as Kenya Cup returnees Western Bulls launch their quest to avoid relegation against defending champions KCB in Nairobi today.

The match, slated for the KCB Sports Club at 4pm, presents Bulls with a chance to test the bankers’ title credentials early in the season but the Kakamega-based side, who have never won this fixture since making their Kenya Cup debut in the 2012-13 season, will have to be at their best in order to deny Curtis Olago’s men maximum points.

KCB will draw inspiration from their impressive run at the pre-season Impala Floodlit tournament where they managed to clinch the title for a third successive year after beating Menengai Oilers in the final.

Echulusi, as Bulls are popularly known, are making a return to the Kenya Cup having spent two seasons in the Kenya Rugby Union Championship league and they could not have asked for a tougher opponent on the opening day of the 2019-20 campaign.

The Jamhuri Showground is set to host a double header with Homeboyz RFC hosting Kenya Harlequin in the day’s early kick off before Nondescripts and Impala Saracens face off.

The Homeboyz and Quins duel will be a repeat of the Impala Floodlit bronze match two weeks ago, a duel which the Deejays won 30-5.

Menengai Oilers, who finished eighth when they made their top flight debut last season, host cross-town neighbours Nakuru RFC as they hope to build on their momentum from the Floodlit tournament.

“By all means we shall be in the playoffs and its just a matter of which of the top six positions the boys will occupy,” Oilers coach Gibson Weru said following their exploits at the Floodlit event.

Silver medalists in the past three seasons Kabras Sugar, who have lost their influential half-back Philip Wokorach to French club Bourges, clash with Kisumu RFC, another newly-promoted side.

Kenyatta University’s Blak Blad are the only university side left in the top tier following the relegation of Mean Machine and Strathmore Leos last season.

The students, who are under the tutelage of former Kenya 15s coach Michael Otieno, begin their campaign at home against Mwamba RFC.