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Menengai Oilers clinched their first-ever Floodies title last Saturday after trouncing Impala 42-3.
Menengai Oilers are gearing up for their 2024/25 Kenya Cup campaign, set to kick off against Kisumu RFC on Saturday, November 23, at the Nakuru Athletic Club.
Head coach Gibson Weru is optimistic that their victory at the 2024 Impala Floodlights Tournament will serve as a powerful catalyst for greater success.
The Oilers secured their first-ever Floodies title on November 2 with a commanding 42-3 victory over hosts Impala RFC.
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15:00 - 26.03.2024
RUGBY 'I need to re-energise' - Gibson Weru distraught after KCB rudely end Menengai Oilers' Kenya Cup dream
The former Kenya Sevens player has revealed he may not have the energy to go again in the Enterprise Cup after Menengai Oilers were beaten by KCB in the Kenya Cup semis.
This win marked a historic milestone for the club, which previously only had two Varsity titles to their name and had narrowly missed winning the club title in 2019 after a heartbreaking loss to KCB Rugby. Determined to rewrite their story, the team’s relentless efforts finally paid off.
Reflecting on the victory, Weru expressed his pride in his squad's progress.
"I am very excited. It has been a long time coming. The journey started in 2016, and finally, we have our first major 15s trophy. I hope and believe this is the start of many things to come. The spirit among the boys has been amazing, and I am just happy that the hard work is finally paying off," he told the media following the win.
What made this triumph even more remarkable was the resilience displayed by the Oilers, who played with 14 men for over 60 minutes. Weru credited his team’s toughness and resilience as a testament to their growth and preparation for future challenges.
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15:10 - 26.10.2024
Kabras Sugar to begin Kenya Cup title defence against Impala as 2024/2025 Kenya Cup fixtures are released
Kabras will begin their Kenya Cup defence when they face Impala, who earned promotion back to the top flight, while KCB will also be taking on another newly promoted side South Coast Pirates.
"This tournament gauged how we prepared, and our preparations have been getting better over the years. Finally, we have a platform as we start the Kenya Cup season. We still have a lot to work on and improvements to be made, but this win is a strong foundation," he stated.
The Floodies victory has energized the Oilers for the upcoming season, with Weru confident it can propel them toward a strong campaign in the 15s circuit. “We can only use this as a springboard for the upcoming 15s season. We’re excited and motivated to start the season well,” he noted.
Looking ahead, Weru emphasizes the need for continuous improvement, guided by the Japanese philosophy of “Kaizen,” which translates to “a step at a time.”
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20:00 - 28.10.2024
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This approach will be crucial as the Oilers prepare for tough encounters, particularly against Kenya Cup champions Kabras RFC.
"Our immediate target is to improve and keep making steps forward. Kaizen, a step at a time. We know our opponents, like Kabras RFC, present a different kind of mental game, but we’ll figure out how to compete against them this season," he explained.
Weru's experience as a former player adds weight to his belief in the transformative power of winning a first major title. "As a player, I played for a team where we struggled, but once we won our first silverware, it did magic. Winning gives you a lot of motivation and confidence going into games,” he concluded.
With the Kenya Cup season set to begin, the Oilers' ambitions are higher than ever. If their recent Floodies success is any indication, they may well be on the path to challenging Kabras Sugar's long-standing dominance and establishing themselves as true contenders in Kenyan rugby.
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