KCB FC will play Tusker FC on Saturday at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium in the FKF Cup semi-final, as the Kenya Premier League side targets a place in the final after falling short in the 2023/2024 title match.

The club said head coach Robert Matano’s squad last reached the FKF Cup final in the 2023/2024 season, losing to Kenya Police on penalties after a goalless draw in regular time. The Nyayo Stadium tie sets up another high-stakes meeting with a domestic rival as KCB looks to convert its recent cup run into silverware.

According to the club’s match preview, KCB opened its knockout campaign with a 1-0 win over Compel FC before advancing with a 4-0 victory over Zetech Titans in the Round of 32. The team then beat Chebaiywa Lions 3-0 in the Round of 16 to reach the quarter-finals. KCB said Richard Omondi scored the decisive goal in the quarter-final to eliminate Nairobi United, a result the club contrasted with its previous season’s exit to the same opponent by a 1-0 scoreline in the Round of 16.

Matano said the team’s preparation has focused on maintaining discipline while managing the challenge posed by Tusker.

“We have worked hard to reach this stage and the players have shown great discipline and character, Tusker is a strong opponent, but we are prepared for the challenge and focused on achieving our objective of reaching the final,” Robert Matano, Head Coach, KCB FC, said in the statement.

Team captain Alembo said the squad believes it has improved tactically since earlier matches in the season.

“The boys are ready. We have had our winnings; we have improved our strategy. We are ready to take on Tusker FC and emerge victorious,” Alembo, Team Captain, KCB FC, said.

KCB also pointed to a clean-sheet run in the competition as a key performance marker ahead of the semi-final. The club said it has reached the last four without conceding a goal, with Fadhili Masoud, Nashon Alembi, Siraj Mohammed and Victor Okello forming the core of the starting defensive unit during the campaign.

The FKF Cup remains an important trophy in Kenya’s football calendar, offering clubs a separate path to silverware beyond league performance while attracting sponsor attention and fan engagement across key urban venues. For corporates that back club football, deep cup runs also provide predictable matchday visibility and media coverage at a time when sports marketing budgets face increased scrutiny on returns.

KCB Group-backed KCB FC sits within the bank’s broader sports portfolio, which the organisation says includes KCB Women Volleyball Club and KCB Rugby Football Club, alongside support for other disciplines such as chess, athletics and golf. The bank said it has spent “millions of shillings” on sponsorships over the years, though it did not disclose a specific figure for current-season football support.

After the FKF Cup semi-final, KCB said it will return to league action in the SportPesa league, with a match against Sofapaka scheduled for May 17 at Kasarani Annex.

Kenyan rugby player Andy Cole Omolo is set to relocate to Japan to join Tenri University’s rugby programme in Osaka, in a move that will see him combine academics with competitive sport, according to a statement issued by KCB. The 21-year-old lock, who turns 22 on May 2, will pursue a degree in International Relations while playing for the university.

Omolo is currently attached to KCB Rugby Club and is part of the Kenya Simbas setup, the statement said. His switch adds to a growing trend of Kenyan athletes using education-linked pathways to access overseas playing opportunities, particularly in markets where university rugby serves as a feeder system into professional leagues.

“This is a big step for me and the first step towards becoming a professional rugby player. I am excited about the opportunity to grow both academically and on the pitch in Japan. I extend gratitude to Wazi Wazi and DBA Africa for their relentless pursuit of this chance,” Omolo said in the statement.

Omolo’s development has been closely tied to western Kenya’s school rugby pipeline. He was born and raised in Chavakali and attended Walodeya Primary School, where he started playing rugby in Class 7.

“I grew up in Chavakali and went to Walodeya Primary School. I started playing rugby in Class 7, but I wasn’t very serious at the time; I was still focused on football,” he said.

His commitment to rugby deepened at Chavakali High School from 2019, where he trained with the Kabras age-grade team, played for Western Chipu while still in school, and captained the school side for two years, according to the statement.

“When I joined Chavakali High School, that’s when I really focused on rugby. I trained with the Kabras age-grade team, played for Western Chipu while still in high school, and had the privilege of captaining Chavakali for two years,” Omolo said.

After high school, he joined Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST), where he featured in three Kenya Cup matches before the team’s relegation, KCB said. The statement added that his performances earned him a call-up to the national Under-20 side in 2023. He later moved to KCB Rugby Club.

KCB Rugby Club head coach Andrew Amonde said the Japan opportunity reflects Omolo’s development since joining the club.

“Andy has shown tremendous discipline and work ethic since joining KCB. His progression has been impressive, and this opportunity in Japan is well deserved. We believe this move will expose him to a higher level of competition and help him reach his full potential,” Amonde said.

For Kenya’s sports business landscape, the move underscores how local club structures and sponsorship ecosystems are increasingly linked to international player pathways. While the statement did not disclose financial terms of the move, overseas placements can raise player valuation, broaden talent exposure, and strengthen the profile of Kenyan rugby institutions among foreign recruiters.

KCB also positioned the transfer as an example of how education and sport can be paired to unlock cross-border opportunities for athletes. The bank maintains sports assets across several disciplines, including KCB Rugby Football Club, KCB Football Club and KCB Women Volleyball Club, it said.

Omolo is expected to transition to Tenri University ahead of his academic and rugby schedule in Japan. His progress in Osaka will be watched by local clubs and the national team setup as Kenya continues to build depth in forward positions and expand player export routes beyond traditional destinations.