Date: Saturday, 17 April 2010
Venue: RFUEA Grounds, Ngong Road, Nairobi
Protagonists: Kenya Harlequin FC vs KCB
At Stake: The Kenya Cup title
When Kenya Harlequin and KCB stepped out onto the RFUEA turf on that second-last Saturday of April 2010, few could have predicted the drama about to unfold. The date was 17 April 2010, and the occasion,the Kenya Cup final,was one for the ages.
The match was beamed live across the African continent courtesy of Supersport, and it delivered in full. Fans in the stands got their money’s worth, while those glued to their screens were treated to a contest that truly lived up to the billing,a game of two halves, etched in memory for all the right reasons.
Their Paths to the Final
Quins had topped the abbreviated regular season with six wins and one defeat,a 15–5 loss away to Nakuru on 27 March 2010. That record secured them first place and a semifinal showdown with eternal rivals Impala, which they won 25–16.
The 2010 season itself was transitional,played as a one-off to shift the competition from the old calendar-year format (February–September) to the now-standard November–May season.
KCB, meanwhile, had closed their regular season with five wins, one draw, and one defeat. In their semifinal, they saw off Nakuru 20–10. Their only defeat of the campaign had come against Quins, a record 37–12 loss at Ruaraka on 13 March 2010,till their heaviest home defeat since relocating from Nairobi School in 2001. The draw had been a 6–6 stalemate with Impala at the Impala Club on 27 March, with Andrew Amonde kicking home the equalizing penalty.
KCB’s Frenetic Start
From kickoff, KCB came flying out of the blocks. Fullback Calvins Biko hoisted a high ball that unsettled the quartered shirts, setting the tone for sustained pressure. Scrum-half Peter Mutai linked with winger Benjamin Ojema, who dotted down for the opening try. At just 19 years old, fly-half Fabian Olando coolly slotted the extras for a 7–0 lead.
The bankers were rampant, forcing Quins into repeated errors. Three penalties followed, each dispatched by Olando’s assured boot, and KCB surged to a 16–0 advantage midway through the half.
Quins were reeling. The pro-KCB chants of “hapo sawa!” rang around RFUEA, with fans thinking the title race was already decided. But finals, as the old adage goes, can serve up more drama than any soap opera.
Quins found a lifeline when fly-half Peter Abuoga struck a long-range penalty, reducing the gap to 16–3. Suddenly, the match had life. But just as the comeback flickered, KCB struck again—Anthony Ogot crossed for their second try, sending the bankers into halftime with a commanding 21–3 lead.
At the interval, the mood split three ways: KCB fans thinking “we got this,” Quins fans clinging to “we can do this,” and neutrals sitting tight, eager to see which way the pendulum would swing.
The Quins Revival
KCB opened the second half brightly, but the intensity soon fizzled out like a flat soda,or beer, depending on your preference. Quins, meanwhile, began probing with belief.
Their breakthrough came via 20-year-old back-row Jeff Ojwach, who scored an unconverted try to bring it to 21–8. The comeback gained traction when try-hungry hooker Vincent Ongera went over, Abuoga converting to close the gap to 21–15.
Suddenly, the tide had turned. Fans in the center stand roared in unison: “You ain’t seen nothing like the mighty Quin!”
Abuoga’s booming boot added a penalty, making it 21–18. The tension was palpable. Then came the killer blow. Victor Sudi bulldozed over for Quins’ third try, giving them the lead for the first time. Though Abuoga missed the conversion, he soon made amends with another penalty, stretching the score to 26–21.
KCB mounted a desperate late rally, but Quins held firm. From 21–3 down at halftime, they had produced an incredible comeback, scoring 23 unanswered points to clinch the 2010 Kenya Cup title.
It was, in every sense, the tale of two halves.
Post-Match Reactions
Ogre’s Joy
Quins Head Coach Edward “Ogre” Kinyany could not hide his delight. He credited the forwards for standing up to KCB’s traditionally dominant pack, and hailed his youthful side,including Ojwach, Dennis Muhanji, Patrice Agunda, and David Ambunya, “who just wanted to play rugby.”
On his halftime pep talk, Kinyany explained:
“I asked the boys what they want deep down inside… were they enjoying themselves? The results were plain for all to see.”
The Captain’s Word
Quins skipper Daniel Kiptoo added:
“We came expecting the trophy to be handed to us… KCB came hard. I give credit to my team. At halftime, I told the lads: if we want this game, let’s go out and play. If not, let’s stay in the changing rooms. We came out, we believed, we kept our heads, and we got the result. Kudos to KCB,they did not come lying down, they fought to the end.”
Tank’s Reaction
KCB Head Coach Michael “Tank” Otieno was candid in defeat:
“It’s amazing. We had the game in the first half… but we forgot the game plan in the second. We just stopped playing. We were comfortable defending. You cannot defend at 21–3, you have to keep on scoring.”
A Final for the Ages
Over the years, the Kenya Cup has produced finals that were one-sided, dull, thrilling, or somewhere in between. But the 2010 decider between Quins and KCB remains one of the greatest in recent memory,a contest that embodied resilience, belief, and the unrelenting drama of rugby.
On that April afternoon at the RFUEA Grounds, the mighty Quins scripted a comeback for the ages.
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