KCB's George Ooro in action against Quins during the Impala floodlit tournament/HANDOUTKCB Rugby interim head coach Andrew Amonde believes they learnt valuable lessons from last season as they prepare to make amends in the upcoming 2025–2026 Kenya Cup campaign.
The bankers fell 31-8 to Menengai Oilers in a one-sided Kenya Cup semi-final, and Amonde said the team has worked to refine their game plan in pursuit of a first Kenya Cup title since 2021.
“The semi-final loss was a wake-up call to look at our structure, tactical plays, set-pieces and just about everything within the set-up of the team to see which areas we need to improve,” noted Amonde.
The ongoing Impala Floodlit Tournament has helped gauge their preparedness. Despite a narrow 16-13 loss to the Oilers in the quarter-finals, Amonde believes the team is on an upward trajectory.
“We ticked some boxes in the defeat to Oilers — a competitive game which we lost in the last minute,” he added.
KCB bounced back strongly from Oilers' defeat, thrashing Kenya Harlequin 64-10 in the plate semis. They will battle Strathmore Leos, who edged Mwamba 27-26, in Saturday’s plate final.
Amonde said new signings Hafidh Mohammed and Clyde Kimani will have an opportunity to prove their worth on Saturday and in upcoming friendlies before the league begins.
“They have settled into the team and adapted accordingly. They will have to battle hard for a position in the starting lineup, just like everyone else. But it’s encouraging that we have young new players coming through,” observed Amonde.
The former Kenya Sevens captain expects a three-horse race in the Kenya Cup pitting the bankers alongside champions Kabras Sugar and Oilers.
“The three teams are ahead of everyone else in terms of experience, squad depth and financial stability. It’s a pity — personally, I would love to see the rest of the clubs being part of the conversation, but it’s highly unlikely they can challenge the top three going forward,” he said.
The eight-time champions will open their campaign against Impala on November 15, followed by Kisumu RFC, Leos and Nakuru RFC before breaking for Christmas and New Year holidays.
