DALA SEVENS IS ON: Coach demands response, Division two enters knock-out stage

Menengai Cream Homeboyz Rugby players celebarte after winning the Prinsloo sevens at Nakuru Athletics Club on Agust 7,2016.PHOTO:KIPSANG JOSEPH

National Sevens Series leaders Homeboyz RFC coach Simon Odongo has urged his players not to be disturbed by the memory of their two consecutive Cup defeats, but instead to focus on bouncing back in the Dala Sevens, the fourth leg of the Series, that kicked off yesterday with the Division Two competition, at Kisumu's Mamboleo showground.

The Deejays had a brilliant start to the season winning the Prinsloo leg before losing to third-placed Impala and second-placed Kenya Harlequin in Kabeberi and Driftwood legs respectively.

Despite two final losses, Homeboyz are still sitting pretty at the top of the table with 60 points, four ahead of Quins.

But with three legs to go, Odongo has demanded for a quick response from his players with the aim of gracing all the remaining Cup finals.

"The two defeats are now behind us and Dala is an opportunity for the boys to prove themselves. Our main target is to win the overall title, but to do so we must play in all the remaining finals," Odongo told Feverpitch.

However, the coach is wary of the threat posed by their Pool B opponents. Homeboyz face a tricky test against Menengai Oilers in their opening match this morning before taking on Kisumu and Mwamba respectively.

"I know it will not be a walk in the park for us, but we are determined to qualify for the quarterfinals. I prefer having tough teams on day one than day two," said Odongo.

Meanwhile, Daystar Falcons, Eastlanders, Catholic Monks, Technical University of Kenya and Kisii have all qualified for today's Dala Sevens Division Two competition.

Falcons kicked off their campaign on a high note yesterday, walloping Stormers RFC 42-0 in a one-sided encounter at the Mamboleo grounds before defeating University of Eldoret 24-12 to sit pretty at the top of Pool E.

Kisii also had a flying start beating Moi University 33-7 before thrashing a depleted Mbale 40-0 to top Pool F with a game to go. Eastlanders silenced Mbale 24-0 and Moi University 19-7 as Catholic humiliated Egerton (35-0) and Sony (19-5) in their opening two Pool G matches.

Elsewhere, twelve teams have confirmed their participation in this year's Africa Cup Sevens to be held on the sidelines of the Safari Sevens on September 23-24 at the Kasarani Stadium.

Champions and hosts Kenya will battle it out with Zimbabwe, Morocco, Tunisia and Namibia for the continental title. Other teams are Madagascar, Uganda, Nigeria, Botswana, Zambia, Mauritius and Senegal.

Kenya clinched last year's tournament, which doubled up as the Rio Olympic Games African qualifiers, after stunning Zimbabwe 21-17.