By BS Mulavi
Kenya National Sevens coach Mike Friday saluted thousands of fans who turned up at the Nyayo National Stadium to support his team in their quest to recapture the Safaricom Sevens title.
The Englishman said the crowds have played their part in rallying behind the team to produce some crucial results like the 14-12 slim win for Shujaa against Samurai in the group stages.
Both Kenya Morans and Shujaa have qualified for the Main Cup quarterfinals of the tournament after an impressive first day. But Friday warned both teams that their effort yesterday would be useless if they did not play equally well on the second day to clinch the title.
“The crowds have been fantastic and they have done what they do best by being very loud and creating a superb atmosphere for the boys to play,” he said. “We are fortunate that we gave them the results they wanted and now it is for us to keep up the pressure on the second day.”
Friday revealed that Shujaa were in the group of death and for them to beat Samurai from New Zealand and Western Province of South Africa 24-7 to guarantee a spot in the main cup quarterfinals was a show of better things to come from the national team.
“We need to understand that this whole process is a journey and we are not only looking at the result of this tournament but rather how the team will develop until we reach the International Rugby Board Sevens circuit,” he said.
The Kenya Morans were equally impressive by posting a massive 40-7 victory over Rwanda before following it up with a 28-0 smashing of Uganda in a thrilling derby.
It was however not all bliss for all four Kenyan sides as Universities Select was hammered 33-0 by both South African Development squad and Portugal. Chairman’s Select, however, managed to squeeze a slender 21-19 victory over Spain just after losing 31-7 to the Bristol Barracudas.
Friday has been impressed by the strength of some of the sides in the tournament, especially Spain and Portugal whom he said were having a massive tournament.
The Englishman also had a special word for the South African Development squad saying they are serious contenders for the final. The final today is expected to have big crowd, with no conflicting fixtures from football like was yesterday where AFC Leopards were playing Gor Mahia at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
