Menengai Oilers head coach Gibson Weru believes their recent Impala Floodlit Tournament triumph can inspire further success for the Nakuru-based team.
The Oilers made history last Saturday, defeating hosts Impala 42-3 to secure their first-ever major 15s trophy and becoming the first team outside Nairobi to win the Floodlit title.
Menengai Oilers optimism
Reflecting on whether this could be a turning point for the club, Weru expressed optimism. Drawing from his playing experience, he emphasized the significance of a first trophy for a team’s morale and motivation.
Menengai Oilers players pose with Impala Floodlit Final . PHOTO/Scrummage
“I know it will,” Weru told Scrummage Africa. “I played for a team where we struggled, and once we won the first silverware, it worked like magic. It is something that gives you confidence and motivation going into the game. We have recruited well, and the team looks in good shape.”
He described the victory as long time coming for Oilers, who embarked on their journey in 2016. Weru is hopeful it marks the beginning of a new era of success for the club.
“I’m very excited. It has been a long time coming, the journey started in 2016, and finally, we have our first major 15s trophy. I hope and believe it is the start of many to come,” he added.
He commended the players’ resilience, calling the win a testament to their hard work and a springboard for the upcoming season.
“The spirit among the boys has been amazing, and I’m happy we have something to show for the hard work we have put in. We can only use it as the springboard to the new campaign,” said Weru. “The score doesn’t really reflect how it actually was. We had several aspects that we did well and then played one man less for over 60 minutes.”
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Weru highlighted the Floodlit Tournament’s importance in their pre-season, noting that it helps gauge their progress and areas needing improvement.
“For us, it’s a preseason tournament, a chance to see how we have prepared, and our preparations have been getting better over the years. Finally, we have a platform where we can start the Kenya Cup season. There are still many things we need to work on,” he added.
Menengai Oilers targets
Looking ahead, Weru emphasized their immediate focus on improvement and long-term ambition of competing toe-to-toe with the country’s top clubs, Kabras and KCB.
Menengai Oilers players during the 2024 Impala Floodlit. PHOTO/Menengai Oilers/Alex Njue
“We want to keep improving and make small incremental steps. For us, it is Kaizen, a step at a time, trying to get better. We know the defending champion Kabras is a different ball game, and we will try to improve and catch up with them and KCB as well,” he concluded.
