Kabras raring to eliminate Mwamba in Enterprise Cup action

Stephen Sikuta (with ball) of Mwamba RFC tackled by Ernest Ngon'g of Nondie RFC during their Kenya Cup match at Jamhuri Grounds in Nairobi on February 29, 2020. Mwamba RFC won 55-22. Photo[Stafford Ondego,Standard]

Kabras Sugar will continue to miss the services of flanker William Diffu when they host Mwamba in an Enterprise Cup quarter-final in Kakamega today.

Diffu, who joined the sugar millers from Homeboyz at the beginning of the 2019-20 season, sustained an injury during the penultimate round of the Kenya Cup league phase but head coach Henly Du Plessis expects him to be back in two weeks.

“He (Diffu) is still recovering after picking an injury against Nondies in the Kenya Cup. We are getting him fit for the league playoffs and that’s why he will not play against Mwamba,” Du Plessis said.

Despite the youngster’s absence, Du Plessis believes he has enough options at his disposal to register the crucial win that will see them progress to the semi-finals of Kenya’s oldest rugby competition.

“There is definitely pressure since this is a knock-out competition and any slight mistake could be costly. Every game is important and we hope to go all the way and win the tournament again,” the South African coach said.

Du Plessis men will come up against a Mwamba side that is on an upward trajectory having secured a Kenya Cup playoffs berth with a fifth-place finish during the regular season.

There were conflicting reports yesterday that Mwamba will not travel to Kakamega for the match, but a club official insisted they will honour the tie.

The Kakamega outfit beat Mwamba home and away in the Kenya Cup league but Du Plessis said that will count for nothing when today’s fixture starts at 4pm.

“I know Mwamba will be more prepared than the last time we played against each other. We have faced them twice this season and they have also been watching our matches so they know how to approach the game,” he said.

Du Plessis said he will field his strongest possible line-up as they seek to move a step closer to a second Enterprise Cup trophy in as many years.

Kabras, who won the 2019 Enterprise Cup after beating Impala Saracens in the final, are also strong contenders for the Kenya Cup title which has been elusive in recent years.

At the same time, former Enterprise Cup champions KCB is expected to progress to the last four when they host Blak Blad at the KCB Sports Club.