Oilers coach reveals risky move that delivered win against Nondies
Nondescripts tackle Beldad Ogeta from Menenagi Oilers during their Kenya Cup match day 8 at the refinery grounds on February 1, 2025.
On their match day eight, Menengai Oilers had a tough first half, where Nondescripts asserted their dominance, bringing the halftime score to 13-8 in their favour.
However, the home team picked up momentum in the second half, mounting a strong challenge to secure the win.
Menengai Oilers Club captain Ibrahim Ayoo breaks Nondies' Ben Salem tackle to attempt his chance on a try for his team on their Match day 8 on February 1,2025 .
Unfortunately, in the high-intensity second half, Oilers skipper and club captain Ibrahim Ayoo was sent off with a red card, leaving the team to fight for victory with one man down.
Oilers head coach Gibson Weru expressed excitement about the match and the resilience his team showed, stating that it provided great feedback on areas to improve on.
He noted that in this tournament, he experimented with a different combination, making eight changes to the squad, the most changes since the season started.
Menengai Oilers' Beldad Ogeta makes a solo run across the pitch after breaking Nondies defense line ,to make a try for his team on February 1, 2025.
When asked if the squad changes contributed to their struggles in the first half, Weru acknowledged that any alterations to a line up can affect team rhythm.
He pointed out that nine of his players who featured in the Kakamega match did not start this game, which was a challenge especially against a strong opponent like Nondies.
"If we had won flawlessly, I would be comfortable and think everything is fine. This match highlighted our strengths and areas to improve. If I could play these kinds of matches week in, week out, that is what I would want," he says.
Additionally, Weru addressed the red card issued to Ayoo, stressing that the team does not condone such.
Oilers head coach Gibson Weru (centre) at the Refinery grounds where the team won against Nondescripts 34 -25 on their Match day 8 on February 1,2025
“That brings a lot of uncertainty about how Ayoo’s hearing will go. Historically, whenever a player from our side has received a red card, the minimum suspension has been six games. For Ayoo, he might miss several matches, which leaves a gap in our squad," he remarks, expressing his disappointment.
The coach went on to congratulate Samuel Ovuama for his outstanding performance, naming him his man of the match.
On the other hand, Nondies' assistant coach, Moses Wanyaga, acknowledged the difficulty of the game, stating that it is always a tough place to visit. He noted that for about 80 minutes, the score remained close, with only a two-point difference at one point.
Nondies' assistant coach ,Moses Wanyaga ,at the Refinery grounds on February 1, 2025.
"I think some things just didn’t work in our favour, and Oilers brought in a ton of experience from the benched Kenya team players, which gave them the edge. We take the lessons from here and prepare for our match against the South Coast Pirates for the Enterprise Cup where we expect a bounce back and a big win," he says.
Wanyaga praised Ben Salem, as his man of the match, highlighting the experience he brought from Sevens rugby and his fantastic try for the team.
Nondescripts Ben Salem makes a carry for his team during the match against Oilers at the Refinery grounds on their Match day 8 on February 1,2025.
Menengai Oilers stamped their dominance in the ongoing Kenya Cup after beating Nondescripts 34-25 on their home grounds.
This encounter upholds Oilers' unblemished record in the Kenya Cup alongside strong sides KCB RFC and Kabras, who also maintain an unbeaten record.
Oilers' win also adds to their record against Nondies, having faced them seven times and won six. They have dominated their encounters since the 2019/20 season, only losing to Nondies once in the 2018/19 season.