KCB hail impact of new signings ahead of Mwamba clash

KCB assistant coach Peter Odour has hailed the impact of new signings following the team’s blistering start to their season on Saturday.

The Bankers, who recruited ten players during the transfer window, thrashed Western Bulls 31-0 to become the only side to keep a clean sheet as the new Kenya Cup season kicked off with Oduor saying they are keen to improve on last season’s fourth-place finish.

The team has made three changes to the starting line-up that cruised past Bulls as they prepare for a short trip to the Railway Club in for day two action against hosts Mwamba on Saturday.

“Last season we realized a couple of mistakes and I think that why we finished 4th but now we’re back and the new signings will definitely give us the edge in competing for major silverware. Our win was a statement of intent and we hope we can consistently perform as we did against the Bulls,” Oduor told Citizen Digital.

George Asin ,Oliver Mang’eni and Elphas Otieno  are the only changes to the starting fifteen. Mang’eni will link up with former Mwamba man Nick Ong’eri at lock.  Otieno replaces Darwin Mukidza who is away on Kenya Sevens duty.

Calvin Sule and Peter Karia are relegated to the bench while Vincent Onyala and Collins Wanjala are in line for their first appearances of the season. Mike Wanjala and Steve Oyaya are rested for this fixture as Andrew Amonde and Martin Owila are also away on Kenya Sevens duty.

Injured Captain Curtis Lilako believes that winning their first game without conceding a point is the perfect springboard to their season which he says they have set ambitious targets for themselves.

“Playing Mwamba this weekend it will help us a lot knowing whether we can actually win with or without some of the players at the moment,” Curtis said.

He added that the major things they will be looking when they play their opponent are how fast they react to the breakdown especially the racks and their good kicking in the field.

KCB is currently 3rd on the Kenya Cup log with five points behind Homeboyz and Harlequins.

Elsewhere three matches have been affected by the late venue changes in Nairobi and Kakamega, where Kenya Cup double pitting the first match between Mean Machine and Top Fry Nakuru that was scheduled for University of Nairobi grounds has been shifted to Impala Club.

Another match that was set to be held at the same venue is the clash between Impala Saracens and Blakblad but will now take place at Impala as from 2pm.

The third match affected by the change is the one between Western Bulls and Kabras Sugar which will now be held at the Mukumu Boys High School in Khayega, seven kilometers from Kakamega town. This follows the continued unavailability of the Kakamega High School ground which has traditionally served as the Bulls’ home venue.

Other matches include;

Strathmore Leos vs Kenya Harlequin – 4.00pm (+GMT) Madaraka

Nondescripts vs Menengai Cream Homeboyz – 4.00pm (+GMT) Jamhuri Park.