Lessons from the Past, Focus on the Future
KCB Rugby’s interim head coach, Andrew Amonde, believes that the team has taken important lessons from the previous season as they gear up for the upcoming 2025–2026 Kenya Cup campaign. The bankers faced a tough loss in the semi-finals of the Kenya Cup, where they were defeated 31-8 by Menengai Oilers. This defeat served as a wake-up call for the team, prompting them to reassess and refine their strategies in hopes of securing their first Kenya Cup title since 2021.
“The semi-final loss was a wake-up call to look at our structure, tactical plays, set-pieces and just about everything within the set-up of the team to see which areas we need to improve,” noted Amonde.
The ongoing Impala Floodlit Tournament has provided an opportunity for the team to evaluate their readiness for the upcoming season. Despite a narrow 16-13 loss to the Oilers in the quarter-finals, Amonde remains optimistic about the team’s progress.
“We ticked some boxes in the defeat to Oilers — a competitive game which we lost in the last minute,” he added.
Following this setback, KCB bounced back with a strong performance, defeating Kenya Harlequin 64-10 in the plate semis. They will now face Strathmore Leos, who narrowly beat Mwamba 27-26, in Saturday’s plate final.
Amonde highlighted the potential of new signings Hafidh Mohammed and Clyde Kimani, who are expected to play key roles in the upcoming matches and friendlies before the league begins.
“They have settled into the team and adapted accordingly. They will have to battle hard for a position in the starting lineup, just like everyone else. But it’s encouraging that we have young new players coming through,” observed Amonde.
A Competitive Landscape
Amonde anticipates a highly competitive race in the Kenya Cup, with KCB set to face off against champions Kabras Sugar and the Oilers. He believes these three teams are currently leading the pack due to their experience, squad depth, and financial stability.
“The three teams are ahead of everyone else in terms of experience, squad depth and financial stability. It’s a pity — personally, I would love to see the rest of the clubs being part of the conversation, but it’s highly unlikely they can challenge the top three going forward,” he said.
Upcoming Schedule
The eight-time champions will kick off their campaign against Impala on November 15, followed by matches against Kisumu RFC, Leos, and Nakuru RFC. After these games, the team will take a break for the Christmas and New Year holidays.