Oilers target semi-final spot as varsity derby headlines Kenya Cup playoffs

A fortnight after the conclusion of the 2025/26 Kenya Cup regular season, the spotlight shifts to the playoffs as teams battle for a place in the semi-finals in matches scheduled across two counties on Saturday, 18 April.

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The headline fixture will see Strathmore Leos host their university rivals Kenyatta University Blak Blad at the Strathmore Sports Complex from 4:00 pm.

Strathmore secured a home playoff after finishing fourth on 36 points, having registered seven wins and four losses during the regular season. They come up against Blak Blad, who finished fifth with 28 points from six wins and five defeats.

The two sides already have history this season, with Strathmore edging out Blad 32-30 in a tightly contested clash back in November 2025. The stakes are even higher this time, with the winner set to face defending champions Kabras RFC in the semi-finals.

Blak Blad head coach Benard Rotich believes his side is better prepared for the rematch, despite narrowly missing out on a home quarterfinal.

“For us, finishing fourth was the goal so that we could host the quarterfinal, but as it turns out, God works differently, and he gave us the fifth position, which is an improvement from last season,” Rotich said.

“I have had a very narrow squad to work with for various reasons, but I am proud of the effort each player put in to finish fifth, which was in line with the season’s motto #Betternotbigger,” he continued.

Rotich acknowledged that inconsistency cost his side during the regular season but remains confident they have addressed key areas ahead of the knockout clash.

“Performance-wise, what separated us from the top four teams was inconsistency during matches. We played well for long periods, but 10-15 minutes when we went to sleep cost us big time,” he noted.

Reflecting on their previous meeting with Strathmore, Rotich pointed to a poor start as the difference.

“We allowed them to score four tries within the first 20 minutes. We had lapses in defence and struggled in the scrums, which put us under a lot of pressure. However, I was proud of how the boys responded in the second half,” he offered.

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The Blad tactician is encouraged by the two-week break, which he says has allowed his players to recover and fine-tune their approach.

“The break has been good for us. The players have recovered, and we’ve worked on our systems both tactically and technically. Our mental strength and controlled emotions will be key on the day,” he added.

Elsewhere, Menengai Oilers will host Nondescripts RFC at the Nakuru ASK Showground in another quarterfinal clash.

The Oilers head into the fixture in strong form after finishing third in the standings with 45 points, having secured nine wins against two losses. Nondescripts, on the other hand, placed sixth with 25 points from four wins and seven defeats.

Nondies come into the match fresh from a 29-20 loss to Stanbic Bank Pirates in the Enterprise Cup semi-finals, while their last meeting with Oilers ended in a dominant 41-6 victory for the Nakuru-based side.

The winner of that encounter will face KCB Rugby in the semi-finals.

With all four teams eyeing progression, the quarterfinal fixtures promise high-intensity action as the race for the Kenya Cup title gathers momentum.

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Kenya Cup Playoff Fixtures:

Menengai Oilers RFC vs Nondescripts RFC – Nakuru ASK Showground

Strathmore Leos RFC vs KU Blak Blad – Strathmore Sports Complex, Madaraka