Menengai Oilers coach Gibson Weru will prioritise kicking for points ahead of two vital Kenya Cup matches later this month.
Oilers sit third on the log with 33 points but face two stern tests against champions and leaders Kabras on February 24 and second-placed KCB on March 2.
Weru said they left many points on the pitch during their 31-18 win over Nondies last week. And with regular kicker Dennis Abukuse joining Shujaa’s training camp, they will have to look for options.
“Kicking is an area of concern for us and rightly so. Abukuse will not be with us for the next round of matches due to national team duties. We will have to figure it out, fast. We left about 15 points on the pitch in last weekend’s match,” said Weru.
The next two matches will be a dress rehearsal for the playoffs.
“It will be a huge task playing the best two teams in the country. They will give us an indication of where we are; from setpiece to attack and defence and generally all facets of our play. We will be tested accordingly and, hopefully, we will be ready for the playoffs” noted Weru.
The former Kenya Sevens playmaker hopes to have his star players for the Kabras showdown after missing the match against Nondies due to injury.
The Nakuru-based side were without skipper Ibrahim Ayoo, hooker Celestin Mboi, prop Desterious Ifedha, winger Beldad Ogeta and Kenya Sevens centre John Okoth.
“I hope to have some of them back. We don’t have a match on Saturday, which gives the injured players ample time to continue with recovery,” said Weru.
He expects physical duels against the top two sides but expects his charges to offer resistance.
“We are expecting physical matches but I believe we will be competitive going by the signings we made during the transfer window,” said Weru.
