Kenya Cup Finale: Who wants it more between Kabras and Menengai Oilers?

After nearly four months of hard fought battles on the pitch, the 2021/2022 Kenya Cup season has reached its most important match of the campaign - the championship decider.

This season, 2016 champions Kabras Sugar RFC and Kenya Cup final debutants Menengai Oilers are set to battle for honours in the deciding match that will be held at the Bull Ring Arena in Kakamega on Saturday afternoon.

Dubbed as the 'Rai Derby', the final will bring to the fore the business rivalry by the sports loving siblings of Onkar and Tej Rai.

Onkar is the Chief Executive Officer of West Kenya Sugar Company that sponsors Kabras while Tej serves under the same capacity at Menengai Oil Refineries, the owners of Menengai Oilers.

Ahead of the final, Kabras are on a mission to end their long standing suffering in the Kenya Cup that has seen them win only one of the seven finals they have been in since 2015.

After their 2016 maiden title, the Lurambi based side have lost the five consecutive finals till date, all of them being against eight time champions KCB.

Kabras RFC - a story of hope and quest to end long suffering in Kenya Cup

However, for the first time since 2016, the Jerome Muller currently coached side have KCB as the least of their worries after the reigning champions were shockingly knocked out of the semis by Oilers.

Going in the match as favourites, experienced Kenya Simbas forward and team captain Daniel Sikuta revealed the preparations the team has been making in their bid to end an almost six year cup drought at the club.

"The boys have been preparing well. I just want to thank them for putting in the hard work all through the season and making it to another final. We have been talking to each player just asking for the extra focus required mentally in the championship. We just need to concentrate on our structure and what we can do as a team. Come the final whistle, we hope we can get the positive result that we are hoping for," the player remarked.

On the other hand, Gibson Weru's Oilers are chasing a fairytale. Having stunned KCB in the semis, the Nakuru based side are looking to clinch the title on their first ever appearance in the finals.

For a club that was only promoted to the top tier in 2018, the team went one better than last season where they reached the semifinals.

Despite going in as underdogs, captain Chrispine Shitundo is not fazed with the challenge ahead.

"We are excited to be in our first Kenya Cup final having worked tirelessly through the season to ensure we get to this point. We expect a very good game from a Kabras side that has all the experience considering the finals they have played in. On our part, having been in the semis last year and going one better this season, we believe we have some backing for the match. We worked on our weak areas and our set pieces and I am sure we are going to give Kabras a run for their money," the captain said.

On the head to head, Kabras find themselves well primed for the title as they have won all four of their clashes against Oilers in the top flight.

This will be the third time a Kenya Cup final is being played outside Nairobi and the first time not featuring clubs from Nairobi.

The match kicks of at 1500 EAT.

Kabras, Menengai Oilers name squad for Kenya Cup championship decider