Since reaching the Kenya Cup final in their maiden season in the top tier, Kabras Sugar has made no secret of their ambitions, recruiting heavily, locally and internationally as they seek to lay claim on the biggest prize in Kenyan club rugby in their sophomore season.
Three matches into the 2015/16 campaign, the side from Kakamega sit eighth on the log, crushing the Kenya Sharks 87-3 in their season opener before petering out in their ensuing two fixtures.
Leading Quins 17-12 in their match-day two fixture on November 28, the sugarmen ceded possession and conceded a converted try that consigned them to a 17-19 loss. Their Fijian import Jone Kubu would also see red moments before the final whistle.
Newly appointed skipper Maxwell Adaka’s try spared them the agony of a second successive loss as they played to a 20-20 draw against hosts Mwamba last weekend.
Head Coach Mike Bishop will surely demand a much better showing when they host former champions Top Fry Nakuru in match day four action at the Kakamega Showground on Saturday 12 December.
Fully aware that failure to notch a win on Saturday will leave them in the league’s lower reaches, Kabras will need to be disciplined.
They will probably need to shake off the cockiness and arrogance that may have crept in more so due to their off-season signings and show the grit and determination that saw them end the Wanyore’s Kenya Cup reign last season with a famous 15-12 semifinal result in Nakuru on 7 March 2015.
Key for the Kabrasians will be Kenya center Nick Barasa, Max Adaka, Polycarp Odhiambo and Geoffrey Meso.