Kabras Sugar maul Menengai Oilers in Nakuru to retain Enterprise Cup title

Reigning Kenya Cup champions Kabras Sugar retained their Enterprise Cup title after defeating Menengai Oilers 33-12 in this year’s final, which was played at the Nakuru ASK Showground this afternoon.

Kabras Sugar survived a late scare from Menengai Oilers to defend their Kenya Cup title with a 27-26 victory two weeks ago, but on Saturday, the Kakamega-based side made no mistakes as they completely dominated their opponents.

They charged to a 15-0 half-time lead courtesy of tries by Walter Okoth and Alfred Okoth, with Ntabeni Dukisa adding a penalty and a conversion.

Early in the second half, Dukisa stretched Kabras Sugar’s lead to 18-0 with another penalty.

Menengai Oilers then reduced the deficit to 18-7 after Beldad Ogeta crossed the line and Timothy Omela converted.

Eager to stifle any hopes of a comeback, Kabras Sugar extended their lead to 25-7 through a Gabriel Odero try and a Dukisa conversion.

The champions pulled further away when Alfred Orege scored another try to make it 30-7.

Samuel Ovwamu crossed for Oilers to cut the margin to 30-12, but Kabras Sugar had the final say as Dukisa slotted home another penalty to seal a 33-12 victory.

Speaking after the match, Menengai Oilers captain Ibrahim Ayoo praised his teammates for an incredible season.

"Despite today not going our way, I congratulate my teammates for a great season. We reached the final of all the tournaments we played in but we fell short in the Enterprise Cup and Kenya Cup final. If we keep up like this, the trophies will come," Ayoo said before commending Kabras Sugar as a formidable side.

"We lost to a fantastic team. Kabras Sugar have been dominating, but for that reason, they know they have targets on their backs, and we assure them—not only us, but all the other teams will be working hard to defeat them next season," he added.

On his part, Kabras Sugar captain George Nyambua attributed the victory to hard work and executing their game plan.

"We worked really hard this season. Winning trophies is always our target at Kabras Sugar. Two weeks ago we made mistakes that almost cost us the Kenya Cup, and today we were determined to avoid a repeat of that. We aimed to collect as many points as possible early in the second half and then manage the game by piling pressure on Oilers, and it worked," Nyambua said.