This weekend, Rai Group backed Kabras Sugar and Menengai Oilers lock heads in their second ever Kenya Cup final meeting.
The clash played at the Bull Ring last time out is now set for Kakamega ASK Showground on Saturday, 12th April 2025.
The Millers, who have featured in the previous ten Kenya Cup finals, are aiming at a fourth consecutive title and a fifth overall, with Oilers in search of their maiden Kenya Cup silverware.
Whilst history points towards Kabras’ supremacy, the up-and-rising Nakuru-based Oilers have a point to make if their elegant, structured play season through, culminating in their semi-final win over KCB, is anything to go by.
This article will explore key talking points and battles that may shape the highly anticipated match-up. Let’s dive in.
Battle for the midfield
The Gibson Weru-coached Oilers’ success this season boils down to their dominant forward play, racking superior stats in the lineout and scrums, and a brilliant connection with the backs to top it all off.
In the nucleus of it all, a relentless tight five who make it unbearable for teams to play in the middle of the pitch with massive work rate in the tackle area and an ever-present threat of a jackler in the form of skipper Ibrahim Ayoo. Not only is the front row so mobile, but they have also shown great appreciation for space, breaking down through the middle from time to time.
A 6-2 split for their game against the bankers shows Gibu’s heavy lean on forward play, with a bomb squad of Emmanuel Mulindo, Victor Wer,e and Destrious Ifedha supported by Amos Obae and Elkeans Musonye ready to jump in.
Looking to negate the danger are seasoned front rowers in Asuman Mugerwa, Ephraim Oduor, and a seemingly unstoppable Eugene Sifuna, making for an interesting battle as both teams look to force play out wide where they can capitalise on separation to contest the ball in the breakdowns. This plays well into the Oilers’ shape, with back-row-like centers in Chrispin Shitundo and Samuel Ovwamu, who are always looking to get into those contests.
Forwards, again
It has become a common phrase now that the team with the better forwards in the longer version of the game stands the better chance of winning. Of course, so much goes into determining who the better set of forwards are, and one may argue that the Oilers have an edge in this department, especially this season, but hear me out.
The sugarmen have been guilty of lacking continuity in play, most times the forwards failing to make it stick, but a near-perfect show in the semi-finals served as a statement.
They head into the final with arguably more mobile and explosive forwards, quicker on the reload, creating more attacking options, all the while so dangerous in pockets of space as their athleticism allows for quick support play, meaning they can run it from deep in their territory allowed any little space, in comparison to Oilers who have majorly relied on kicking to move the ball upfield before hitting from close.
Oilers forwards will be confident emptying their tanks to stop the powerful Millers pack, knowing too well a quality bomb squad will be ready to maintain or even up the tempo later on.
The Chao effect
No finisher comes near Griffin Chao’s form this season. With 16 tries under his name so far this season, Chao has been nothing short of unstoppable, with opponents unable to find answers to his blistering, powerful, incisive runs.
Kabras can be assured of go forward if they can create one-on-ones for him to exploit on the outside. Solid on the high ball and relentless on the chase ball, he will be key in putting the Oilers receivers under pressure and trying to force errors in clearance. Definitely a man to watch at the Forest this weekend.
O’fam, in case you thought I’m forgetting about Beldad Ogeta, I am not. The colossal winger was in action over the weekend as Oilers won the ESS final against KCB, coming back into action after serving his red card, where he was well handled by the Bankers, who negated his usual danger with ball in hand, forcing a few errors from him on the high ball from time to time. With U20 stalwart Kipchirchir in good form in his absence, we wait to see if Ogeta will make his way onto the squad for the final.
Game drivers
The discussion can not go without mentioning the individuals who are always looked upon for their brilliance. Deciding when and where to play or kick while identifying weak lines in the opposition defence, the game drivers will be key in deciding the outcome of the contest.
Ntabeni Dukisa has been one stand-out performer for Kabras for a number of seasons now, importantly so this season; remember his winning try exploits against Oilers in the regular season. Accurate from the boot, his on-field kicking has also been key in Kabras’ game plan, of course, with Jackson Siketi and Eric Cantona following in his shoes. His vision to put his marauding forwards in space makes him an integral piece for Carlos Katywa.
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For Menengai Oilers, they have Timothy Omela, who has drilled in 44 conversions, 19 penalties and eight tries, and he could be a crucial man for the Nakuru-based side.
Walter Okoth, despite losing a huge chunk of his mobility, has turned himself into an integral piece in the Kabras attack with a good appreciation of structured play and with a massive boot downfield from both feet, another variation to keep the defence guessing. All this without forgetting how colossal he can get running at the defence with ball in hand.
The danger is spread out further in the Oilers’ case, with an experienced Samson Onsomu controlling matters from left to right while a younger duo of Samuel Mwaura and Abutwalib Wesonga look to find the pockets of space in or behind the defence line. They have hardly put a foot wrong throughout the season, even as this promises to be their toughest test yet.
Katywa, Gibu tactical adaptation
With little to no margin for error allowed for on the day, all eyes will be on the two gaffers as they engage in tactical twitches to their shapes and game plan, personel management and positional adjustments to make sure their sides properly adapt to the demands of the game.
Success or failure on this stage can come down to how well you identify your fault lines and find a fix, or the opponents’ porousness and effectively take advantage of it. Whether through game affective substitutions, positional tweaks to exploiting individual weaknesses/strenghts, both coaches will surely be getting off the saddle straight from kickoff.
Will the skies hold
The Kenya Cup final can now almost synonymously be identified with the rains. It will either rain or threaten to pour on the day, and this year’s edition is no different.
A wet surface will largely alter game plans by making handling more tedious, which may pave the way for a kicking contest as both teams contest for coveted territory, keen to put their kickers in a favourable position to scoop the threes.
Of course, all said and done, it will all boil down to the team that will stick together as a unit and want it more than the other. No chance for a nonchalant pose whatsoever until the job is done. See you then!
