Amonde identifies biggest positive despite KCB 15s enduring trophyless season

KCB Rugby head coach Andrew Amonde has pointed to his side’s growth and resilience as the biggest positives despite ending the 2025/26 15s season without silverware.

The Bankers wrapped up the campaign empty-handed after falling short in all three major competitions; the Eric Shirley Shield (ESS), the Kenya Cup and the Enterprise Cup.

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KCB travelled to Kakamega hoping to reclaim the ESS title from Menengai Oilers, but were outplayed 25-13 on Saturday, 9 May, in the curtain-raiser to the Kenya Cup final.

It was a disappointing afternoon for the Bankers, who had entered the clash eager to end the Oilers’ reign.

Their hopes of salvaging the season in the Kenya Cup final also slipped away later in the day as defending champions Kabras RFC edged them 14-8 in a tightly contested encounter at the ASK Kakamega Showground.

KCB had gone into the final determined to reclaim the Kenya Cup title they last lifted in 2021.

Still, Kabras’ experience once again proved decisive as the Sugarmen secured a historic fifth consecutive crown.

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Earlier in the season, the Bankers’ Enterprise Cup journey had also ended in heartbreak after suffering a narrow 11-10 defeat to Uganda’s Stanbic Bank Pirates in the quarterfinals played in Uganda.

Despite the trophyless campaign, Amonde remained optimistic about the future of his squad, describing the team as a young side still learning and growing together.

"For this young side that is still growing together, reaching the final is already a huge step. Kabras’ experience is what won them the game.

For us, it is about learning and growing because mistakes will always happen. What matters is how you correct them and how you use them to become a better team. We will keep working on the areas we need to improve on.

The boys are still young, and they have enough time to turn things around and become an even stronger side,” Amonde told Mozzart Sport.

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The former Kenya Sevens captain also praised his players for their fighting spirit in the final, insisting the match could easily have gone either way.

“My biggest positive takeaway is that we reached the final and came here ready to compete. We played very well, and honestly, the game could have gone either way,” he added.

Kabras’ breakthrough came in the form of veteran flyhalf Ntabeni Dukisa, who slotted in nine points thanks to his magical boots.

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It is that experience that the Bankers lacked, as Brian Wahinya missed six penalties.

“Kabras’ experience is what carried them through. We are grateful for the opportunity, and now we go back to the drawing board knowing we will return as an even stronger side,” he explained.

KCB will now turn their attention to the National 7s Circuit, which kicks off in July, where they head in as defending champions and will be keen to bounce back from a difficult 15s campaign.