Menengai Oilers center Chrispine Shitundo is tackled by Paul Mutsami of Kenya Harlequins as Edward Shitanda closes in during their Kenya Cup match at RFUEA grounds January 25, 2025.
Menengai Oilers skipper Ibrahim Ayoo has warned all rivals that the Nakuru-based side is going for nothing short of three titles this season.
The powerful second row forward reckons that this is their season as they chase after the coveted Kenya Cup together with the prestigious Enterprise Cup to add to maiden Impala Floodlit title won in November.
Menengai Oilers reached their first Enterprise Cup final last Saturday after they manhandled Nondescripts 41-10 at the Nakuru Showground.
They will face Kabras Sugar, who stopped KCB 25-21 in Kakamega, in the final.
On Saturday, the surging Oilers face visiting Kenyatta University’s Blak Blad in their Kenya Cup semi-final play-off at the Nakuru Showground. The winner will play KCB in the semi-final.
In the other semi-final play-off, Nondescripts will host Kenya Harlequin at the Ngong Racecourse with the winner setting up a date with defending champions Kabras Sugar.
In November, Oilers crushed hosts Impala 42-3 in a one-sided final to clinch their first ever Impala Floodlit title.
“Winning Impala Floodlit was literally a grand opener for us and this is clearly our season. That victory really charged the boys,” said Ayoo.
They ran the big two, KCB and Kabras close in the Kenya Cup league phase this season.
They capitulated in the dying minutes to let KCB snatch a dramatic 29-27 victory in a fiercely contested clash at the Ruaraka Sports Club. The Oilers led 14-13 at the break before losing to Kabras Sugar 20-14 at the Nakuru Showground.
“We have gone back to our boilers to correct our mistakes,” said Ayoo, who attributed their surge to several factors including the return to form of their big wigs.
“We have lost in the past owing to inexperience but our players now know what it takes to win big,” said Ayoo. “Our mentality has toughened.”
Ayoo, Emmanuel Mulindo, Samson Onsomu, and Abutwalib Wesonga are among top Oilers that have been passed fit to play on Saturday. They missed the Enterprise Cup semi-final clash.
However, Ayoo cautioned his charges against complacency ahead of their Blak Blad battle.
“It will be a good game of rugby. We respect Blak Blad and want them to go with us into the party. Let everyone know that we are going for Kenya Cup then Enterprise Cup.
We want a treble this season,” said Ayoo with conviction.
Oilers coach Gibson Weru acknowledges that even though they have had a good run but they will work on the areas that saw them lose to KCB and Kabras.
“We want to improve on our defensive pressure as well as cut our opponents’ structured play,” said Weru with relish.
Oilers, who won the National Sevens Circuit in 2022, came close to winning the Kenya Cup in 2022, losing 34-28 to Kabras Sugar in a closely fought final.
The Nakuru side ended KCB’s four-year Kenya Cup dominance, beating them 24-17 in the 2022 semi-final at the KCB Sports Club ground, Ruaraka.
Will this be their year?
