KCB RFC seek Kenya Cup redemption after National Sevens heartbreak

Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) RFC have switched focus to the Kenya Cup slated for November after finishing third in the just concluded 2024 National Sevens Circuit in Nakuru.

The Andrew Amonde-led side garnered 94 points, 11 points adrift of second-placed Kabras Sugar RFC and 16 points behind new champions Kenya Harlequin.

KCB’s struggles were compounded further after finishing ninth in the final leg in Nakuru, and head coach Amonde says the league's competitiveness has greatly improved, and they must step up next season.

 “We had to dig deep on the second day after not playing well on the first day. Big up to the boys who stepped up and showed the character we wanted them to show.

“So, it is just a matter of building the consistency in them and picking what we have learned here and taking it to the fifteens.”

Amonde says the focus is now fully on the Kenya Cup, where they will be hoping to dethrone their archrivals Kabras Sugar, who have won the league consecutively in the last three seasons.

KCB, who were the defending champions heading into this year’s national sevens circuit, managed to win the Kabeberi 7s only in all six legs.  

“Compared to last season, we did not do well considering we were the defending champions. I also think the other teams have improved.

“The next time we prepare for this circuit, we will start from the beginning.

“We started very slow, and it ended up costing us on the last day.”

At the Prinsloo sevens, KCB ousted Mombasa RFC 39-0 in the Challenger Cup quarterfinal before beating another varsity side, Catholic University (CUEA), 22- 12 cruise to the final, where they also defeated Daystar Falcons 38-0 to finish ninth at the last leg of the series.

Amonde says the focus is now fully on the Kenya Cup, where they will be hoping to dethrone their archrivals Kabras Sugar, who have won the league consecutively in the last three seasons.

The fifteenth season is long; for us, it is to bring everyone on board, especially the new guys coming in and building the team we want.

“So, it’s a matter of building them now before the season starts, and we are working very hard on that,” added Amonde.