Kenya 7s forward and Menengai Oilers player Denis Abukuse has shared his thoughts on their recent match against the relegated South Coast Pirates, where they delivered a decisive 35-0 defeat.
He described the game as particularly challenging.
“I’ve never played such a tough game like the one against the Pirates. Both the fans and the players showed great heart. I admired how they carried themselves; they just had a few small lapses that we capitalized on. Overall, they played well,” he said.
Regarding the Pirates’ relegation, Abukuse expressed optimism for their future: “Although they have dropped from the Kenya Cup, I believe they can bounce back next time. They’ve learned from their mistakes, and now they just need to focus on the championship to rebuild. When they return, I believe they will surprise people.”
Oilers head coach Gibson Weru also acknowledged the Pirates’ resilience. “It was a tough game; they made it hard for us, and we had to dig deep, especially in the second half. We learned a lot from this match by exposing different players to various positions and assessing how that works as we move into the playoffs,” he said.
EDITOR’S PICKS:
- Follow us on Scrummage Africa FB
- Mike Friday advice to Kenya 7s
- List of laws to be used in Kenya Cup 2024/25
- 1 step forward, 2 back: A story of Kenya Rugby Referees
Pirates head coach Kevin Amiani reflected on their debut season in the Kenya Cup, describing it as challenging.
“It has been a tough season, but the good thing is that we gained valuable experience. Now we take those lessons home and know exactly what to do when we come back. We were excited just to get to the Kenya Cup, but now we need to plan to become a dominant club,” Amiani explained.
The 35-0 defeat against Menengai Oilers marked the end of the Pirates’ journey in the top division, finishing last (12th place) with just 9 points in their inaugural season in the Kenya Cup.
Meanwhile, Menengai Oilers secured a home playoff after finishing third with 47 points and will face KU Blak Blad, who ended the season in sixth place with 26 points. The winner of this matchup will advance to the semifinals to take on KCB Rugby, who finished the season in second place with 50 points.
