KCB Winstone Macharia breaks away from Blak Blad opponents during a Kenya Cup match in Ruaraka/HANDOUT

Discipline and forward dominance will be key for KCB ahead of their blockbuster Kenya Cup clash against Menengai Oilers in Nakuru on Saturday.

Speaking on Tuesday, KCB head coach Andrew Amonde termed the match as one of the two biggest tests of the season, ahead of another season-defining duel against holders Kabras next month.
“We have entered the critical stage of the season and the boys know our discipline will be crucial — not giving away penalties and winning the gainline collisions will be vital, as well as dominating the scrum and lineout,” said Amonde.
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He added: “Oilers are a good side. We have had our battles with them over the last two to three seasons. It won’t be a walk in the park, and as a group and management, these are the kind of matches we live for.”
The two sides split last season’s series, with KCB winning 29-27 in the pool phase before Oilers responded with a 31-8 semifinal victory to book their place in the final, where they lost to Kabras in Kakamega.
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The former Kenya Sevens skipper said last year’s semifinal defeat will serve as motivation for Saturday’s showdown.
“We came up short in the semifinal — we were outplayed from start to finish — and we will use that as motivation for this encounter on Saturday,” said Amonde.
The two sides are separated by just one point on the log, with the Oilers joint top alongside Kabras on 40 points, while KCB sit third on 39 points. Amonde said the team is targeting a top-two finish to secure a home semifinal next month.
“Seeding is key. If you have a home semifinal, you have a big advantage, so we want to finish in the top two positions,” he said.
The tactician said the squad is focused on the season run-in, which includes matches against Kabras and Daystar Falcons next month.
“The boys are up to the challenge. There is palpable excitement as we head into the business stage of the season,” noted Amonde.
The league phase ends on March 14, with the playoffs scheduled for April 18, the semifinals on April 24 and the final on May 2.