This archive report was first published on 25 October 2019.
Kenya Commercial Bank's (KCB) dominance in the Kenya Cup is set to be put to the test as the 2019/2020 season kicks off on Saturday.
The reigning champions will face Western Bulls at the Den, Ruaraka, in their opening match, as they bid for an eighth Kenya Cup title.
Heavyweights Kabras Sugar, Impala Saracens, Kenya Harlequin, Homeboyz, and Mwamba will be out to wrestle the crown from KCB in what promises to be an exciting season.
KCB have beaten Kabras Sugar in the Kenya Cup final for the last three seasons, but coach Henley Du Plessis is confident that his team has acquired the muscle to finally outlast KCB in the race for the coveted title.
On May 19, this year, KCB rallied from behind to beat Kabras Sugar 23-15 in the Kenya Cup final at Kakamega Showground, marking the first time in the competition's 100-year history that the final was played outside Nairobi.
Meanwhile, Kabras Sugar will be hoping to recapture the title they won for the first and last time during the 2015/2016 season, and will open their season against new boys Kisumu Rugby Club at the Kakamega Showground.
Former Kenya 15s and Nakuru forward Lawrence Buyachi has joined Kabras alongside South African utility back Ntabeni Dukisa, who featured for Southern Kings in the Pro14 and the Eastern Province Elephants in the Currie Cup, and former Fiji Sevens forward Timoci Sinaite.
Other matches on the opening day include Mwamba and Harlequin, who lost in the semi-finals last season, away to Blak Blad and Homeboyz at Kenyatta University and Jamhuri Park Showground respectively.
David 'Watts' Oluoch makes a return to Mwamba, where he will co-captain the side alongside Michael Agevi, as they take on the varsity students led by centre Ian Obukwa.
Kevin Angote is Quins new captain for the season, taking over from flanker Peter Misango who led the team last season.
The fixtures for the opening day of the 2019/2020 Kenya Cup season are as follows:
- KCB v Western Bulls (4pm) KCB Ruaraka
- Menengai Oilers v Nakuru (4pm) Nakuru ASK
- Homeboyz v Kenya Harlequin (2pm) Jamhuri ASK
- Kabras Sugar v Kisumu (3pm) Kakamega ASK
- Nondescripts v Impala (4pm) Jamhuri ASK
- BlakBlad v Mwamba (4pm) Kenyatta University
- KCB II v Western Bulls II (2pm) KCB Ruaraka
- Menengai Oilers II v Nakuru II (2pm) Nakuru ASK
- Homeboyz II v Kenya Harlequin II (10am) Jamhuri ASK
- Kabras Sugar RFC II v Kisumu II (1pm) Kakamega ASK
- Nondescripts II v Impala II (12pm) Jamhuri ASK
- BlakBlad II v Mwamba II (2pm) Kenyatta University
