When Carlos Katywa from South Africa took over as head coach at the Kenya Cup and Enterprise Cup champions, Kabras Sugar Rugby Club, he never thought he would make history.
And on Saturday, Katywa celebrated his 40th birthday in style as he guided the club to win its 44th consecutive Kenya Cup match.
Kabras are top of the 12-team Kenya Cup table with 25 points after five rounds of matches, having beaten Strathmore 81-21 at the Kakamega show-ground.
Katywa has not lost a single Kenya Cup match since taking over from his fellow countryman, Jerome Muller, as head coach during the 2022/23 season.
This is precisely the fourth consecutive season that Kabras have gone without losing a match in the Kenya Cup, and they are undefeated in five consecutive seasons in the Enterprise Cup.
Kabras coach Carlos Katywa.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
Katywa was Muller’s assistant when he guided Kabras Sugar to their second Kenya Cup victory, rallying from 18–8 down at half-time to beat Menengai Oilers 34–28 in the final in Kakamega.
“It’s by God’s grace, and I thank him for the talented players he has given me at Kabras Sugar. It’s these players who are making history,” Katywa told Nation Sport, adding, “It has never been about me as the coach, but about the people around me.”
Kabras Sugar Rugby FC players celebrate after winning the 2024/2025 Kenya Cup title.
Photo credit: Isaac Wale | Nation Media Group
Katywa led Kabras to their first-ever win against the dominant KCB in the 2022/23 Kenya Cup final at the Kakamega Showground, winning 19-9.
Kabras Sugar had reached the Kenya Cup final seven times, but had only won against Impala (22–5) at the Impala Sports Club in the 2015–16 season and against the Menengai Oilers (34–28) at the Bullring in Kakamega.
“It felt good to win against KCB in a final for the first time, but I have always told my players that we need to focus on establishing ourselves as a strong rugby brand rather than paying attention to what other teams are doing,” said Katywa.
He was not surprised when Kabras met Menengai Oilers in the final last season, for the first time since 2023, winning 27-26 at the Kakamega Showground. This was their fifth title and their fourth in a row.
“We were used to meeting KCB, but our smaller brothers really brought their ‘A’ game. However, our experience carried the day, and we learned a lot, too,” said Katywa.
Kabras Sugar Rugby team celebrate a win against Menengai at the 2024 SportPesa National 7s Circuit - Dala 7s at the Jomo Kenyatta Stadium, Kisumu on August 18, 2024.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation Media Group
Katywa, who has won the Enterprise Cup three times with Kabras, first as deputy coach and then as head coach, said that Kenya, and especially Kakamega, had become his second home.
“Coming to Kenya has exposed me to the world, starting with Kenyan culture, which is similar to that of South Africa,” said Katywa.
Born in Mthatha (formerly Umtata) in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, Katywa grew up playing rugby before moving to Kenya to become a coach.
At school, Graeme College, Katywa played fly-half and winger, earning Eastern Province colours, before moving to England, where he played for the Sharks Academy and Rovers Rugby Club.
