It’s been three years, three months and three days since KCB registered a Kenya Cup win over Resolution Impala Saracens. The 22-3 result on Friday 12 December 2014 is now a distant memory as the Sarries have dominated the current Kenya Cup champions in subsequent outings and this sets the stage for an exciting Kenya Cup semifinal encounter at the KCB Sports Club on Saturday 17 March 2018. Heading into Saturday’s fixture, everything, even these statistics will be a distant memory,even KCB’s 18-17 win over the Sarries in the pre-season Impala Floodies cup final.
The champions topped the regular season charts, finishing unbeaten with ten wins and the solitary draw against their semifinal opponents at the same venue a fortnight ago. Finishing top of the table handed the bankers direct home semifinal qualification…and a free weekend last Saturday as the Sarries were busy making light work with a 34-18 Top 6 playoff win over their neighbours and rivals SportPesa Quins.
The two sides played to a 9-9 at the same venue on Saturday 3 March 2018, KCB’s Darwin Mukidza and Impala’s Mark Kwemoi drilling home three penalties each on a day when the rain competed with the playing surface for the man of the match award.
Both sides will come into this fixture keen on gaining an upper hand in terms of possession, territory and the most important statistic on the day, points.
KCB have been imperious and business like all season and will look to dominate this fixture from gun to tape but will have to contend with a well drilled Impala outfit who are keen to return to the championship match for the first time since the 2015/16 season when they fell to a 22-5 loss to Kabras Sugar.
Among the key players for the bankers will be hard running lock Nick Ongeri who has been vital cog for Curtis Olago’s charges. Other key actors for the bankers include Darwin Mukidza, Davis Chenge and Curtis Lilako while the Sarries will hope that Sammy Motari has shook off the effects of a leg strain to feature in this do or die clash. Frank Ndong’s charges will also look to the gangly Kwemoi,Derek Mayar, and Kenya scrum half Sam Onsomu to victory on Saturday.
Both sides are expected to release their match day squads on Thursday night.