It Is Time For Business

After 13 weeks of separating the boys from the men, it is finally time for business as the Kenya Cup enters the semi finals stage.

Kelvin Omiyo against KCB
Kelvin Omiyo against KCB

Defending champions Nakuru RFC lead the four sides into the semi finals after what can only be described as a blockbuster league phase. The defending champions claiming top spot on the last day of the regular season after beating then league leaders 23-20 at the Suguta Valley.

The battle for the next two play off spots wasn’t any easier as Strathmore clung on to third spot owing to their superior aggregate tally. Kabras managing to fend off Mwamba in the battle for fourth spot after a resounding 61-24 win over the Leos.

Three of these sides have consistently made the play offs, since this format was introduced in 2012. In those two seasons, one thing apart from the three has been constant, a Nakuru win. Will this be 3 in 3 for the Wanyore?

Top Fry Nakuru RFC vs Kabras Sugar RFC – 4:00 PM, NAC.

It will be another episode of Family fury as defending champions host ‘brothers’ and this season’s surprise package Kabras Sugar RFC.

The hosts managed to steer past the league phase unscathed, claiming 13 wins from 13. Head Coach Dominuque Habimana has put his squad’s depth into good use, phasing in his most experienced and vital players as the season wore on and got to the business end.

In doing this, Papa ran the risk of running a disjointed side compared to his competition who stuck to their tried and tested through the same period. The Wanyore however managed to engage an extra gear every time they looked to have been pushed to a corner, the results against Nondies, Homeboyz, this Kabras side and most recently KCB stand as an example.

On their part Man City have run a steady race, losing their first two games to KCB and Nakuru before putting together a run of six wins. This was what gave them the upper hand in the race for fourth, they were however run close after back to back defeats by Nondies and Mwamba, bouncing back into the play off train just in time with three wins in their closing matches.

Edwin Achayo in action against Mwamba
Edwin Achayo in action against Mwamba

This one is set to be a great battle, if both sides turn up, with the battle at the forwards one to watch out for. Nakuru should remain unchanged from the squad that edged out the Lions here a fort night ago, with Giles Littlewood, Sammy Warui and Isaiah Nyariki forming the front row partnership.

The Kabras axis of Dennis Mukabi, Duncan Mwangi, Steve Oluoch, Polycap Luaki and Geofrey Messo will be vital in the forwards. With rumours doing rounds that Kenyan born Ugandan international George Scott Oluoch could feature for Man City, this encounter just got livelier.

In the backs, Edwin Achayo should line up against veteran Gibson Weru, with Nick Barasa facing off against Kelvin Omiyo in what is expected to be the highlight battle of the match. The pressure will be on Nakuru who will be expected to beat Kabras by their fanatic home support and march on to their third title in a row.

Not many expected the sugar millers to make it this far, they will have very little to lose here which should play to their advantage, as it has throughout the season. The last time these two met, Nakuru were narrow 13-10 winners, expect another closely fought out affair.

KCB vs Pan Africa Strathmore Leos – 2:00 PM, NAC

This fixture will serve as a memorial match of former KCB back row Anthony ‘Junior’ Ochino who passed away on 5th March 2014. The winner will not only book a ticket to the March 14th final but win the inaugural Anthony Ochino Memorial cup.

These two have had a contrasting season in the league phase, where as Strathmore exploded onto the scene picking up big win after big win, then almost fading away in the closing phases of the league. The Lions were a bit slower in picking up, but once they found their footing at the turn of the year they have been impressive.

The Leos claimed 9 wins out of 13, with losses to Homeboyz, KCB, Nakuru and Kabras. KCB picking up 12 wins out of 13, losing on the last day of the league phase to Nakuru.

Scrum Time Lions vs Leos
Scrum Time Lions vs Leos

The students from Strathmore come into this one without a win in their last three matches, that run started by a 38-17 loss to the side they will be meeting at the weekend. KCB return to the grounds where they lost their unbeaten run after a narrow 23-20 loss to Nakuru.

Both sides will be without key faces in the back row, with Adrian Opondo out for the Leos through injury and Max Adaka of KCB serving his one match ban for the red card he received against Nakuru. The last time these two met, the national sevens team players were unavailable, this time round the coaches have a full house respectively to pick from.

Mike Wanjala, Tony Owuor and Billy Odhiambo should slot straight in for the Leos who will be looking for their first win against the Lions in three years and their second final in as many years. Ken Andola and Godfrey Githaiga will form the half back pairing, this pair was unavailable in their last encounter with Andola suspended and Githaiga on the bench.

Andrew Amonde returns to the KCB back row just in time to fill in for Adaka as head coach Curtis Olago hands Rocky Aguko a starting role alongside Philip Wamae in this department. The rest of the squad remains as it was the last time these two met. My pivotal battle will see Ken Moseti face off against a player he goes way back with, to their Primary School days in Ken Andola.

Fabian Olando will battle it out against Billy Odhiambo with Andrew Amonde, Philip Wamae and Rocky Aguko facing Charles Odhiambo, Tony Owuor and Brian Nyikuli. The Leos will be looking to avenge that 38-17 result in a match that could have gone their way had they kept their tempo going. They will however be the underdogs here going by that result and recent form.

Cyprian Kuto takes on Brian Omondi
Cyprian Kuto takes on Brian Omondi

The Lions should be wary of the wounded Leos who will be out to make a statement that their season far from over. I don’t expect another big margin here for the winner, especially if both sides stick to the script.

One factor that will have a hand in these two matches is the ground conditions at the NAC, though the hosts have promised to do all they can to manage the dusty conditions, there is only so much you can do in a fight against nature. Whichever side will adapt to the conditions better will definitely have an upper hand here.

Collated Kenya Cup Semi final Fixtures :

KCB vs Pan Africa Strathmore Leos – 2:00 PM, NAC.

Top Fry Nakuru vs Kabras Sugar RFC – 4:00 pm, NAC.

Remember to vote for OSBKE as the Best Sports Blog in the 2015 BAKE Awards . Also remember to tell a friend to do the same, and another, and another and another and an enemy or two.

KWISHA..Nimeruka Nje!!

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Poghie

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