Kabras, Impala clash in Enterprise Cup final at RFUEA

Samuel Moturi (L) of Impala Saracens tackled by Ian Obukwa of KU during their Kenya Cup match at KCB Sports club in Nairobi on March 02, 2019. Impala RFC won 38-19. [www.sportpicha.com]

Kabras Sugar are hoping to rise from the ashes of last weekend’s Kenya Cup disappointment when they face Impala Saracens in the Enterprise Cup final at the RFUEA grounds starting 4 pm today.

The sugar millers, who are fresh from being denied Kenya Cup glory by KCB,  head to the tie as clear favourites having beaten Impala home and away in the league and coach Henly Du Plessis has backed his charges to prevail once again.

“We need to concentrate fully for the entire 80 minutes and ensure that we are accurate in our execution just like we have been doing. Our defence should also be good because slight mistakes are always punished in finals,” Du Plessis told Standard Sport. 

Kabras will miss the services of loose forward Dan Sikuta and winger Felix Ayange who are in Europe for different Sevens assignments. Sikuta is with the Kenya Sevens team in London while Ayange is part of the Samurai Select squad that is set to participate in the European Champions Trophy in Russia. 

“They are some of our senior players and it is definitely a blow to us. We have played a few games without them and  I think there are able replacements to fill their positions,” Du Plessis said, in reference to the duo’s absence.

Apart from the two, the Kakamega-based side will also have to do without long term absentee Coleman Were as well as Brian Tanga as they are sidelined with injuries.

In Impala, Kabras face a side who are hungry to go one better having lost to Homeboyz in the Enterprise Cup final last season.

The Ngong Road outfit underlined their title credentials in the semi-finals when they came from behind to upset KCB  11-10 with a last gasp penalty and head coach Frank Ndong’ hopes his men can claim the scalp of another bigwig.

“They (Kabras) had thrown everything in the league but they didn’t win it so I know they will come hard at us. The game will be squarely in our control and it will depend on how we turn up,” Ndong’ said.

Just like Du Plessis, Ndong’ will also be deprived of some of his key men. Kenya Sevens half-back Samuel Oliech, Anthony Nyandigisi and Joel Omer are all ruled out of the match.

“We let in soft tries the last time we faced them and we must strengthen our defence. We’ll make some tactical changes that will hopefully help us improve especially in the second half,” Ndong’ said.

South African Paul Mente will officiate the match with the assistance of Victor Oduor and Moses Ndung’u.

Impala v Kabras

Last three Enterprise Cup meetings

April 28, 2018: Impala 16-13 Kabras

May 20, 2017: Kabras 16-15 Impala

June 11, 2016: Kabras 24-5 Impala

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