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.

KCB FC will return to SportPesa League action this weekend with an afternoon fixture against Ulinzi Stars at the Kasarani Annex, as the Nairobi-based side seeks to build on recent results and climb the table, according to a statement issued by the club.

The match comes after KCB FC beat lower-division side Chebaiywa FC 3-0 in the FKF Cup and followed an earlier 1-0 league win over BIDCO United. KCB FC said the results have lifted the team to sixth place in the current league campaign with 40 points after 27 rounds.

The fixture adds to a busy period for clubs competing across the league and cup calendar, an area that has grown in commercial significance for Kenya’s corporate sponsors and broadcasters. KCB Group-backed sports properties remain part of a broader trend in which leading Kenyan companies use team and event sponsorships to maintain brand visibility and community engagement, particularly as matchday audiences continue to fragment across in-stadium attendance and digital viewing.

Speaking ahead of the game during an open training session at the KCB Leadership Centre, Head Coach Robert ‘Lion’ Matano said the club expects to carry its recent performance into the league match. “We have had a good run in our current fixtures, I am confident that the boys are ready to secure maximum points in this important duel. During the past week, we have trained exceptionally well, and the mood in the camp is amazing,” Matano said.

However, the team will head into the encounter without three players, the club said. Forward Mathews ‘Messi’ Angal, full-back Gideon Were and winger Patrick Odhiambo have been ruled out after picking up injuries.

Team captain Nashon Alembi said the squad’s immediate objective is to keep pushing up the standings in the final stretch of the season. “The boys are high in spirits, winning thrice in a row in all competitions. We believe that with the plethora of talent at our disposal, we can beat any team. Our focus is to keep moving up the Premier League table. We know that we have seven matches left to play this season, so we will keep fighting until the end,” Alembi said.

In terms of selection, Matano is expected to make minimal changes to the side that started against Chebaiywa in the FKF Cup, the club said. Congolese goalkeeper Arnold Matumele is set to start, with Siraj Mohammed, Amatton Samunya, Fadhili Masoud and Victor Okello listed as the likely core of the defence.

KCB FC said veteran midfielder Humphrey Mieni is expected to start alongside Ronald Makati and Kelvin Etemesi, while Francis Kahiro is slated to lead the attack with wingers Bonface Omondi and December Kisaka.

The match also underlines the commercial ecosystem surrounding Kenyan football, where corporate-backed clubs can sustain deeper squads and stronger support structures. KCB Bank said its sports sponsorship footprint spans its core team assets—KCB Women Volleyball Club, KCB Football Club and KCB Rugby Football Club—alongside support for chess, athletics and golf. The bank said it has invested “millions of shillings” in sports sponsorships over the years, though it did not disclose specific figures.

With seven league matches remaining, the outcome against Ulinzi Stars will shape KCB FC’s push for a higher finish and, potentially, stronger positioning for future sponsorship and fan engagement opportunities tied to performance, matchday visibility and cup progression.