Menengai Oliers look to turn the corner in Impala Floodlit semis against Blak Blad

The Impala Floodlit tournament is the final curtain-raiser event, coming after the conclusion of the six-leg National Sevens Circuit.

On Friday, Menengai Oilers skipper Abraham Oyoo said his team has “listened to the ground” and the clear message from their fans is that this is the season for the club to end the local dominance of Kabras Sugar that stretches over three seasons.

Oilers and Kenyatta University’s Blak Blad will renew their rivalry in the Impala Floodlit tournament semi-finals on Saturday evening at the Impala Sports Club grounds, while the home team Impala play Nondescripts in the other semi-final match.

Winners of Saturday’s semi-final matches will clash in the final on November 8, 2025, at the same venue.

“More than ourselves, everyone believes that we are the team that can bring Kabras Sugar’s dominance to an end this season,” said Oyoo. “If we have everyone’s support, then who are we not to go for it?”

Oyoo reckons that getting used to playing in the final in the backdrop of many fans is what his team needs to bring out the best in the players.

Last season, Menengai Oilers came close to winning a maiden Kenya Cup title but lost to Kabras Sugar 27-26 in a tense final on April 12, this year at the Kakamega Showground. That win saw  Kabras Sugar win a fourth successive Kenya Cup title, and the fifth in total.

Two weeks later, Kabras Sugar confirmed their dominance of the local rugby scene, beating Menengai Oilers 33-12 to win a fifth consecutive Enterprise Cup at the Nakuru Showground on April 26, 2025.

“We now have the experience and good mental framework to handle finals,” said Ayoo, adding that it was the second time they featured in a Kenya Cup final.

“We only had five players from the squad that played in our first final in 2022 against Kabras, who even had players from the team that won their first Kenya Cup title in 2016,” Oyoo said.

Oilers, who came close to winning the Impala Floodlit title on many occasions, finally won their maiden crown in 2024, beating Impala 42-3 in the final. They had bundled out Blak Blad 22-6 in the semi-final stage.

Oilers and Blak Blad met in the 2023 Impala Floodlit play-offs, and the university students claimed a stunning 14-10 victory. The two teams met in last season’s Kenya Cup play-off for the semi-finals, and the Oilers triumphed 31-18.

Blak Blad had stunned Kenya Harlequin 35-13 to set up the clash with Oilers.

Menengai Oilers coach, Gibson Weru, has made some changes from the side that silenced KCB 1-13 in the quarter-final on October 25. Fortune Aturo replaces Celestine Mbai as hooker, while Samwel Were, who started at number eight, moves to the blind side, with Elkeans Musonye taking up his place.

Samson Onsomu, who played as fly-half,  moves to scrum-half while Andrew Odero drops to the bench.

Samuel Mwaura is the new fly-half. Crispin Shitundo comes in for John Okoth at centre.

"We believe we can turn around the tide against the Oilers. We have done that before," said Blak Blad coach Rotich Kibet, who has also made changes of his own to the side.

Jowi Barret starts for Blak Blad at the back row in place of David Njiraini, while Ernest Obat comes in for Philemon Maroa at number eight. 

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