Kabras RFC chairman on plan to prolong club's success in future years
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Reading Time: 3min | Fri. 17.04.26. | 08:49
The administrator believes that the club will extend its dominance despite facing a myriad of challenges
Kabras RFC chairman Edwin Esilaba has outlined an ambitious long-term plan to sustain the club’s dominance, even as the side continues to thrive despite missing several key players.
Kabras booked their place in yet another Enterprise Cup final after edging out Menengai Oilers 29-20 in a hard-fought semifinal clash played on Saturday, 11 April at the ASK Kakamega Showground.
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The victory was particularly impressive given the absence of several senior players, including; George Nyambua, Asuman Mugerwa, Walter Okoth, Barry Young, and Alfred Orege, who are currently in China for the Hong Kong 10s.
Jeanson Misoga also missed the tie after being ruled out, while Brian Tanga, Kevin Wekesa, and Jackson Siketi were away in camp with the Kenya Sevens.
Despite the depleted squad, Kabras showcased their depth, with young talents stepping up when it mattered most.
Among those handed an opportunity was Adrian Khwesa, a former Butula youngster who has impressed in the Eric Shirley Shield and was named among the substitutes.
Speaking after the match, Esilaba expressed pride in his team’s resilience and emphasized the importance of building a strong succession plan.
“We are at the verge of making history. This will be our fifth Enterprise Cup final in a row. Ours is to get over it, carry it, and then we focus on the Kenya Cup as well to see if we can retain both the cups,” he said.
He noted that the club’s long-term success hinges on a well-structured development pipeline.
“We have to work harder. One of the things we have tried to do is create a pipeline. Over the weekend, we had a debut for four boys in the U20. As long as that pipeline is still there, we will always have a good competitive team, and that is our plan. There has to be succession in how we run the club,” the eloquent chairman said.
Reflecting on the semifinal clash, Esilaba admitted it was a challenging encounter but praised his players for their mentality and determination.
“We knew the game would be tough, but I am happy that the boys stood up and placed their best foot forward. We did not start quite well, but as the game progressed, we could see how the boys wanted it. It is that championship mentality that always pushes us,” he noted.
“Oilers are a good team, credit to them, but we had to step up and be the best. For you to be a champion, you have to play with that mentality,” he continued.
Esilaba also welcomed the return of Tanga, who is back in the squad after a lengthy injury layoff.
Tanga had been sidelined since the 2025 Dala 7s quarterfinal, where he sustained a neck injury while representing Kabras against Nakuru RFC, an injury that affected his balance and vision and forced him to step away from the game.
In his absence, youngster Roy Maruti took charge of the scrum.
“Tanga will be a very good addition. I think it is one of those areas we have struggled in as we basically had to rely on one player. We expect a better outing. The team is well balanced, and having players like Wekesa alongside Tanga adds value. We can only wish them well,” Esilaba added.
Kabras will now turn their attention to the final, where they are set to face Uganda Rugby Premiership defending champions Stanbic Bank Pirates on Saturday, 30 April.