- Kabras Sugar head coach Carlos Katywa has described Ntabeni Dukisa as a rare gem in Kenya’s rugby scene.
- Dukisa emerged as Kabras’ hero on May 9, helping the Sugar Millers secure their fifth consecutive Kenya Cup title with a 14-8 victory over KCB Rugby.
- The experienced fly-half came off the bench to deliver nine crucial points through sensational kicks.
Kabras Sugar head coach Carlos Katywa has described South Africa’s Ntabeni Dukisa as the best player across the entire rugby scene in the country.
Katywa’s praise arrived right after Dukisa came off the bench to become the hero after single-handedly steering Kabras to their fifth consecutive Kenya Cup title, edging out perennial rivals KCB Rugby 14-8 on Saturday, May 9 at the ASK Showground in Kakamega.
The veteran flyhalf had not been active in any competition during the 25/26 season and was summoned back to Kabras to feature in the high-stakes final for what was his first game of the campaign.
READ MORE: Kabras Sugar stun KCB to complete historic five-peat in the Kenya Cup
Brought in during the final minutes of the first half, where Kabras were trailing 3-0 at the break, Dukisa slotted nine points from three kicks which eventually paid off handsomely.
Hillary Odhiambo’s try also helped complete the 14-8 comeback that handed Kabras their sixth overall title.
As a result, the utility back, who joined the Sugar Miller back in 2019, is now etched into the club’s history after they clinched the Kenya Cup title for the fifth time since 2022.
From 2023 through 2026, they finished all four seasons unbeaten, stretching their magnificent run to 54 matches.
Katywa hails Dukisa after heroic return
Coach Katywa did not shy away from lauding the South Africa-born star, stating that Dukisa is simply incomparable to any rugby player in the country, describing him as brimming with brilliance and loaded with rugby talent.
“I have told you guys so many times, you cannot compare Dukisa to any of our local players. He’s an exceptional player, he’s a beaut. The talent that he has, the boots that he has, the vision that he has for the game, the technical awareness that he possesses, It is out of this world,” Katywa told SportPesa Blog after their win on Saturday.
Before the match, Katywa had told SportPesa Blog that Dukisa’s comeback was just for squad boost, to replace the injured Barry Young and suspended Jone Kubu.
He also mentioned that the flyhalf would only be used in case the game went south on them.
READ MORE: Kabras boss explains why veteran Dukisa is back as their secret weapon for 25/26 Kenya Cup final
And on Saturday, he became the man who rescued them off the bench. Katywa hailed him as someone who can stay idle an entire season and still come out strong to play later.
“You can come and ask me again, who in this world, who in this country, could not play the whole season and then come and deliver a performance of this nature? Contact fitness is not there.
I mean, I even had to ask him personally, ‘Can you do 40 minutes?’ At that time, we were kind of panicking, panic buttons were up. He told me, just go, give it to me. So I told him, get ready. Ten minutes or five, you’re going for it. And then we went for it,” Katywa reiterated.
With the return of the 37-year-old, he could also feature for Kabras on Saturday, May 30 when they take on Stanbic Black Pirates of Uganda in a cross-border Enterprise Cup final at the RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi where they will be looking to secure their fifth straight title as well.