KATYWA UPBEAT

Champions Kabras open season against Kisumu in Kakamega

Kabras lost the pre-season Lake Victoria Basin Cup to Championship side Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) 14-13

In Summary

•The three-time champions finished the 2022-2023 league campaign unbeaten joining KCB and Quins as the only sides to go without losing a match in an entire campaign.

•The sugarmillers, who will be chasing a third consecutive Kenya Cup title will then travel to to Nakuru for a daunting tie against last year's losing semifinalists Menengai Oilers on December 2.

Kabras winger Lawrence Lumumba beats his KCB opponent during the 2023 Enterprise Cup final at the RFUEA ground
Kabras winger Lawrence Lumumba beats his KCB opponent during the 2023 Enterprise Cup final at the RFUEA ground

Kenya Cup champions Kabras open their title defence on November 25 with a home tie against newly-promoted Kisumu RFC at the Kakemga showground. 

The sugar millers, who will be chasing a third consecutive Kenya Cup title,  will then travel to Nakuru for a daunting tie against last year's losing semifinalists, Menengai Oilers on December 2.

The Kakamega-based outfit then returns home for a tricky tie against Blak Blad on December 9 before concluding their December fixtures with an away tie against  Mwamba in the capital on December 16. 

The league will then take a Christmas and New Year break before resuming on January  6,  where Carlos Katywa's charges will be at home against Homeboyz. 

Kabras lost the pre-season Lake Victoria Basin Cup to Championship side Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) 14-13 and assistant coach Felix Ayange termed the loss a wake-up call to his charges.

“It was a tough game but it showed the areas where the team needs to improve with a week to the league kickoff.  We have to go back to the drawing board," observed Ayange. 

The three-time champions finished the 2022-2023 league campaign unbeaten joining KCB and Quins as the only sides to go without losing a match in an entire campaign.

Last year's losing finalists KCB will be hoping to stop the Kabras' charge this time around and open their campaign when they entertain Nondies in what is a rematch of last month's  Impala Floodlit final at the Lion's Den in Ruaraka. 

Curtis Olago's charges then make the short trip across the capital to play resurgent Quins at the RFUEA ground on December 2. 

They will then travel to Rift Valley to battle it out against fast improving Nakuru side on December 9 before concluding their fixtures ahead of the festivities with a tough tie against Strathmore Leos.

The highlight fixture of the  Kenya Cup season Kabars and KCB will take place on January 13 in Kakamega.

The group phase of the League will conclude on April 6 with the top six teams entering the playoffs on April 13.

The team that finishes third will meet sixth place while the side that finishes fourth will meet the team placed fifth.

The winners of those matches then proceed to the semifinals and face which will take place on April 20.  The final will be played on April 27.