KCB head coach Curtis Olago credited a halftime pep talk and tweaking of tactics for the side's come-from-behind victory against Kabras to claim a fourth consecutive Kenya Cup title.
The bankers trailed 20-0 at halftime but showed character in the second half to win the game 28-25 in extra time at Nandi Bears on Saturday.
Olago termed it the sweetest victory in his decade-long stint as head coach.
"This has arguably been the sweetest victory. With had our back to the wall and when we met at half time, I told the players we can't have come all this way to lose and they dug deep for the win,” said Olago.
The Kenya under 20 coach said the intermittent rain and wind coupled with sin bins to three of his players made life difficult for his side in the first half.
We were playing against the wind in the first half and it was quite tough for us. We adapted in the second and played a smart territorial game and, eventually, we carried the day,” added Olago.
Fullback Darwin Mukidza, Kenya Sevens skipper Andrew Amonde were sent to the sin bin in the frenetic encounter with Kabras Fijian fullback Jone Kubu sent to the naughty chair.
The bankers lost the services of Isaac Njoroge and Rocky Aguko to injuries and with no ambulance in sight, the match was delayed for an hour and a half, much to the dislike of the hosts.
Olago said they will celebrate the moment but planning for the new season will start in due course.
“We will take a break and enjoy this moment,” he said.
Kabras coach Dominique Habimana rued the lack of experience in his side to close out the game in regulation time.
“We got nervous in the second half, stopped playing and KCB — with their experience — were able to turn things around," said Habimana.
The former Kenya Simbas assistant coach said the more than an hour-long break occasioned by lack of an ambulance may have contributed to the side's defeat.
“We lost a bit of edge following the long break and the players got sloppy and lost control of the encounter,” he added.
