Too close to call as top four collide in Kenya Cup semis

With the battle for the 2018/2019 Kenya Cup title narrowed to four teams, the fight is expected to get fierce and tight with each of the four having a realistic chance of bagging the diadem.

Defending champions KCB will be hunting for their sixth title in the Kenya Cup history and a third in a row after winning in 2017 and last year when they face Kenya Harlequins at the Ruaraka ground this weekend while last year’s finalists Kabras Sugar will be up against Mwamba RFC at the ASK Showground in Kakamega.

The winners in the above semis will lock horns in an epic final set for May 25 at the RFUEA ground with  the victorious team taking home Sh. 1 million in prize money.

Curtis Olago coached KCB has only lost once this term, against Nondescripts, and have the bragging rights of being the only side to have defeated Kabras Sugar.

The bankers have been left with only the Kenya Cup title to fight for after narrowly losing 11-10 to Impala Saracens in the semi finals of the Enterprise Cup at the weekend.

Last year’s finalist Kabras Sugar who finished top of the log have only won the title once in 2016 under the leadership of the then head coach Charles Cardovillis who is the currently with Kenya Harlequins.

Henley Du Plessis charges Kabras are already in the Enterprise Cup finals after demolishing Kenya Harlequins 54-11 over the weekend and will be aiming to build on this momentum heading to the weekend showdown when they lock horns Mwamba in Kakamega.

According to Kabras assistant coach Edwin Achayo, they will take each game at a time and make sure they win every tournament left for them.

“We would like to be involved to the very end in each and every tournament we’re participating in so we are happy to be in the semi finals and hope to reach the finals and win it,” he said.

“This is knockout rugby and what is important for us is to play well, execute our game plan and definitely win.

“If you can pile-on points early on your opponents and stay in the game, then well and good because in the knockout what is important is a win.  It doesn’t matter if it’s by a point or 50,” he charged.

Between the four teams, Kenya Harlequin has won the most titles in history with eight titles, Mwamba lifting the diadem only once in 1983.

Kenya Harlequin has one of the most experienced technical benches which consist of Charles Cardovillis and former Shujaa tactician Benyamin Ayimba.

For Mwamba, they have multiple Kenya internationals led by Kenya’s top try scorer in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series Collins Injera, magnificent Daniel Taabu, Billy Odhiambo and Eliaqim Kichoi to battle for the title.

The winner of Kenya Cup will take home Ksh 1,000,000 while the runners up will get Ksh 600,000.Third place  finisherswill earn Ksh 400,000 with the fourth placed team getting Ksh 300,000.Playoffs losers Top Fry Nakuru and Impala Saracens earn each Ksh 200,000.