Blak Blad coach admits pressure ahead of season finale against Impala
Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 26.03.26. | 14:45
The two sides last met during the Impala Floodlit Tournament in November, where Blak Blad edged out Impala 22-19 to secure third place, a result that adds another layer of intrigue to the upcoming clash
Kenyatta University’s Blak Blad head coach Benard Rotich has admitted that pressure is mounting ahead of their final Kenya Cup regular-season clash against Impala RFC, as the students look to finish strong and push beyond their recent playoff ceiling.
Blak Blad will host Impala on Saturday, 28 March at the Blad Bin, in what promises to be a high-stakes Kenya Cup encounter for both sides.
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The university outfit heads into the match on the back of a narrow 9-8 defeat to already relegated Kisumu RFC, a result that dented their momentum at a crucial stage of the season.
Despite the setback, Blak Blad remain fifth on the standings with 24 points, having recorded five wins and five losses so far. However, Rotich believes his side must sharpen key areas of their game if they are to bounce back convincingly.
“Looking inwards, I guess our mindset needs to really improve, then seizing every opportunity we create, and of course, our territorial game,” Rotich told Mozzart Sport.
The coach revealed that the team has taken time to reflect on their identity and expectations, something he says has already shown in training sessions.
“We sat and spoke about what we set as our values and expectations from everyone in the season, and that reminded us who we were and how we should do things, and that has been evident in training,” he added.
Saturday’s fixture carries added complexity, with Impala fighting for survival. The Ngong Road-based side sits 10th on the log with 16 points and still has a game in hand.
A win against Blak Blad could significantly boost their chances of avoiding relegation, making them dangerous opponents.
“It’s going to be a tough and competitive game since they are motivated after winning against Nondies in their last fixture and have some good forwards upfront,” Rotich noted.
The two sides last met during the Impala Floodlit Tournament in November, where Blak Blad edged out Impala 22-19 to secure third place, a result that adds another layer of intrigue to the upcoming clash.
While Blak Blad are safely in the playoffs, Rotich acknowledged the weight of expectation surrounding the team, especially after falling short in previous campaigns.
“Yes, there is pressure to put up a performance that will take us beyond the playoffs since we have been there twice now, but for us, we take it as a privilege since it drives us to do better,” he said.
The coach also admitted that missing out on a home playoff has complicated their ambitions this season.
“For this year, success on the field for us looked like having a home playoff, but unfortunately, it wasn’t possible, so we have to do so much to go beyond the playoffs since we are away,” he explained.
Beyond the pitch, Blak Blad continues to emphasise holistic development, with the team set to conduct their quarterly Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activity on Sunday, 29 March.
“Off the pitch, we have our quarterly children’s home visits ongoing. We also have other activities like bonding over meals, mentorship of our new boys by the senior guys, and, of course, us being able to use our talents to impact society positively,” Rotich said.
