Du Plessis banking on new signings to reclaim Kenya Cup title

Kabras Sugar head coach Henley Du Plessis believes his team’s new acquisitions will boost his charges quest to reclaim the Kenya Cup title which they last won in 2015.

The western based side has acquired the services of Zimbabwean Royal Mwale and John Okoth from Top Fry Nakuru and the South African tactician believes the two can make a difference in the squad towards the end of the season.

“We’re hoping that the two players can make the difference in our squad in the second leg of the season. We signed them not because we are a weak side but to strengthen some positions,” Du Plessis told Citizen Digital.

Du Plessis is optimistic that Zimbabwean fly-half Royal Mwale will fit in Kabras Sugar squad having played against Kenya Simbas in the Victoria Cup with his national team last year.

“Mwale played against Kenya in the Victoria Cup so he knows some Kabras players and he also knows the Kenyan environment having played in Nakuru; so I think he will make new friends and blend with the players well,” explained the South African tactician.

He added that South African utility back Ntabeni Dukisa, the former Fiji Sevens forward Timoci Sinaite, and Jone Kobu, plus Uganda’s Rugby 15s skipper Asuman Mugerrwa, who also joined the team at the start of the season, have already adapted to Kabras way of play and believes Mwale can also do the same.

“You can see the South Africans, Fijians and the Ugandan we acquired at the start of the season have already adapted well and we hope he (Mwale) can also do the same as we head towards the end of the season,” enthused Henley.

Other foreigners who have played for Kabras include South Africans Logan Basson9fly-half), center Mario Wilson, eighth man Claude Johannes and Uganda’s Phillip Wokorach.

Kabras Sugar has only released Kevin Kabole from their squad as they start the second round of the season leading with 35 points, a point ahead of second-placed KCB.

Another club which has been busy during the KRU mid-season transfer window is sixth-placed Menengai Oilers who have acquired Mark Kwemoi from Impala Saracens, Dalmus Chituyi from Menengai Cream Homeboyz and Geoffrey Ominde from Top Fry Nakuru.

Elsewhere, Impala Saracens have acquired the services of prop Nesta Okoth from KCB, John Kiilu from Kenya Harlequins and prop Douglas Ochami from Daystar.

Ochami turned out for Impala before heading to Daystar for studies and his return is expected to add grit and power to the side

Others are: Bill Arigi(lock) from Kisumu RFC, Winston Saidi from Catholic University Monks and Tony Khadambi, a utility back from Moi University who also previously turned out for Homeboyz.

Saracens, coached by Mitch Ocholla, have at the same time lost the services of Mark Kwemoi who has joined Menengai Oilers with Edgar Obino released on loan to USIU to pursue his doctoral studies.

They are currently placed fourth on the log on 25 points after eight rounds of matches.

In a related development, Fry Nakuru head coach Felix Oloo has confirmed the signings of Kevin Kabole from Kabras Sugar with Blastas Juma and Victor Matiko both coming from Menengai Oilers. Also joining the side is Thomas Okeyo.