Menengai Oilers, Nondies to clash in 2025 Impala Floodlit Cup final

Menengai Oilers hope to defend their Impala Floodlit title after securing their second consecutive final in the 2025 edition by edging out KU Blak Blad 42-21 on Saturday in a main cup semifinal held at the Impala Club along Ngong Road.

The Oilers eliminated KCB Rugby in the quarterfinals, while Blak Blad defeated Kenya Harlequins, setting up a replay of the 2024 semifinal where the Oilers again proved their strength.

Oilers will now face Nondescript Rugby in the championship final.

Nondies secured their place by dispatching the hosts and last season’s defending champions, Impala RFC, with a tense 25-19 victory in the other Cup semifinal later that evening.

Much like the first semifinal, this match was also a repeat of the previous year’s final four, where the host team had narrowly beaten Nondies 9-6. This time, however, Nondies demonstrated their dominance to book a spot in the final.

The final is scheduled for Saturday, 8 November.

The Impala Floodlit is the final curtain-raiser event of the new Kenya Cup season that starts later this month, coming after the conclusion of the six-leg National Sevens Circuit.

In September, KCB were crowned the overall Sportpesa National Sevens Circuit champions after winning their fourth leg of the circuit. This win was however, determined after the Cup quarterfinal where they beat rivals Strathmore to secure the overall title.

They went ahead to beat Daystar in the Cup semifinal before securing the Dala 7s title after seeing off Kabras 12-05 in the final. KCB had a stellar performance throughout the Circuit, having made it to each of the six finals, losing two and winning four. They have lost only two of the 36 matches they have played throughout the six tournaments.

On Friday Menengai Oilers skipper Abraham Oyoo was bullish that the team can bring to an end the local dominance of Kabras Sugar that stretches over three seasons.

“If we have everyone’s support, then who are we not go for it?” he said terming the Impala Floodlit tourney as a preparation for the new season.

Last season, Oilers were on the cusp of winning their maiden Kenya Cup title, but their hopes were thwarted by Kabras losing 26-27 in April this year. That win saw Kabras clinch their fourth consecutive title and fifth in total.

Two weeks later, Kabras confirmed their local dominance by once again beating the Oilers 33-12 to claim their fifth consecutive Enterprise Cup at the Nakuru Showgrounds.