After their disappointing national league defeat to Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) last Sunday in Game Three of the playoffs at Moi International Sports Centre (MISC), Kasarani, Kenya Prisons are hoping to bounce back in the Kenya Cup semifinal against Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) this Saturday.
Speaking during a recovery session in Nairobi, Prisons coach Josp Barasa rued missed opportunities that saw his team continue their wait for a national league title, which has now stretched into a fifth year. He, however, said the Kenya Cup presents an opportunity for redemption.
“We lost last Sunday in the second set, but we had locked KPC in our palms. It’s unfortunate, but that’s how sports is; at the end of the day, there has to be a winner, and unfortunately, it wasn’t us,” Barasa admitted.
“We now face another dangerous side that has shown its capabilities both in Kenya and abroad. KCB won’t be an easy task, but we are ready for them. We have to beat them to advance, as our target is to win this Kenya Cup,” he added.
Prisons lost the National League final to defending champions Kenya Pipeline on Sunday, extending their wait for the title that dates back to 2021, while KPC successfully defended the crown they won last season.
Attention now shifts to the Kenya Cup this weekend, where Prisons earned a semifinal place after maintaining an unbeaten run with a commanding 3-0 (25-22, 25-10, 25-5) quarterfinal victory over sister club Nairobi Prisons at the Nyayo Stadium gymnasium.
Their semifinal clash against KCB at MISC renews a fierce rivalry, with the defending champions having won the inaugural Kenya Cup title after defeating Kenya Pipeline in last year’s final.
Barasa is eager to end Prisons’ title drought, while KCB coach Japheth Munala, who missed out on the national league title this season, will be looking to defend the crown he won last year. Standing in his way is a Prisons side that has not lifted a title since 2021.