Kabras head coach Carlso Katywa has confirmed utility back Jone Kubu is out on sabbatical rest, and will be out of the team until the last stages of the regular season next year.
Kubu who sustained an arm injury during Kenya Simbas training match back in October missed the Final Qualifying Tournament in Dubai and has not featured for the sugar men opening Kenya Cup fixtures.
Speaking to Scrummage Africa, Katywa confirmed the flying Fijian will be out of the first phase of the defending champions Kenya Cup run, and that he has since returned back home to Fiji to recover.
“We decided to give him (Jone Kubu) a sabbatical leave after he appeared in our list of guys who were red flagged for playing too many games without proper rest in our internal fitness assessment that was carried out before the season commenced,” he said.
Kubu was instrumental in the sugar men Kenya Cup final triumph last season, where he was named the Most Valuable Player of the season. From Kabras , Kubu had a busy year stint with the Simbas after being named by former head coach Paul Odera in the team for South Africa Rugby World Cup preps tour, Rugby Africa Cup tournament in France and was bound for the Repechage tournament in Dubai before he sustained an injury.
The internal assessment findings, according to Katywa, showed it was inevitable not to hand the Fijian a sabbatical leave, especially after his stint with the Simbas.
“Our findings revealed he had been playing long, averaging 70 to 80 minutes for both club and country the whole year. In our tally he has played over 700 minutes last season alone and we figured it was important to give him a rest so that he recuperates,” he said.
“This is an international trend that has been happening, players who plays a fundamental role in key areas being given a rest,” he added.
Katywa further hinted on the Fijians return, saying they are looking to in cooperate him back into the squad new year.
“Hopefully we can have him back at the crucial stages next year, the last few games before playoffs stage and the playoffs stage where we will integrate him into the team,” he said.
His absence in the squad has had minimal effect though in the first opening two Kenya Cup games for Kabras in the new season where they have managed two wins in two, all coming with maximum points.
Kabras currently sit third at the Kenya Cup log with ten points tied with Oilers and KCB but with an inferior point difference. They face Kenya Harlequins in their next Kenya Cup assignment scheduled for Saturday 10 at Kakamega Showground.
