Kenya Cup Review: Kabras finally show much needed maturity in ending six year title drought

Many people will say that they were expected to be the outright winners in the 2021/2022 Kenya Cup Final.

That without eight time winners KCB, they would easily bat away the challenge from Menengai Oilers on their way to lifting only their second Kenya Cup title ever since their maiden triumph in 2016.

But at the Bull Ring Arena in Kakamega on Saturday afternoon, Kabras RFC had to show much more than many had anticipated in order to end their six year wait for a second Kenya Cup title.

Trailing 8-21 some minutes after the start of the second half, the sugar millers rode above every haunting past as Fijian born Jone Kubu inspired the team to a 34-28 comeback victory that helped the team avoid what would have been a shocking upset against a very well drilled Menengai Oilers side in the Rai Derby.

They had to fight when required and had to dig deep when called upon. Most important of all, they finally showed the much needed maturity as they ended their painful and torturous experience in championship finals that had seen them lose all of the five consecutive finals they appeared in since 2016.

“We started the game poorly. We lost easy balls and never defended well. The team was not focused but I give it to them. I had to talk a lot to the boys to change," their South African head coach Jerome Muller said after the victory.

“We could not play our rugby. After having sacrificed a lot in training, we had to pull up our socks. We only needed to believe in ourselves, get the ball and drive to the try line. What was remaining was lifting the trophy. Despite trailing by 8-18 at the half, they were able to man up and play,” he added.

At the centre referee's full time whistle, the team managed to do the hitherto insurmountable task. They finally won in a Kenya Cup final, only a second time out of the seven finals they have been in.

“The past few finals Kabras lost due to poor second half and today the boys came to play till the last minute. Big ups to every player and staff. We celebrate at last,” Muller, who clinched his first title at the club, added after returning long lost glory to Kakamega.

Jerome Muller ©️ @Karim254

In the end, it proved to be a close shave for Tang Tang against Oilers. But all through the match, you could tell nerves from their previous cup losses lingered in their minds for a minute.

What if we bottle this again? Perhaps they questioned themselves. It probably turned out to be the sail in their winds as they shifted into higher gears that enabled them to complete the comeback.

In a way, you could tell that the experience finally helped them get over the line. That the maturity of handling the occassion against an inexperienced side finally showed. And that was the most satisfying of it all.