The national Sevens team has been boosted by the return of six senior players ahead of the seventh leg of the World Sevens Series slated for Hong Kong next weekend.
Former Shujaa captain Andrew Amonde headlines the list of returnees and he is joined by Jeffrey Oluoch, Nelson Oyoo, Eden Agero, Augustine Lugonzo as well as Kabras Sugar forward Daniel Sikuta.
Save for Agero and Oluoch who were in action at the Dubai and Cape Town tournaments last year, the other four have not featured this season and are in line to make their first appearance of the campaign. Oscar Dennis of Nondescripts will also make his first appearance of the season having recovered from an injury.
The senior players had boycotted duty for the better part of the season as they were opposed to the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) decision to slash their salaries.
“I expect them to play well and help us pick more points,” Shujaa coach Paul Murunga said after naming his squad yesterday.
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Among those retained by Murunga is Mwamba half-back Daniel Taabu, Homeboyz duo of Bush Mwale and Johnstone Olindi and Mean Machine captain Shadon Munoko.
In the absence of KCB’s Jacob Ojee who is ruled out by academic commitments, Jeffrey Oluoch will captain the team with Vincent Onyala named as his assistant.
At the Hong Kong Sevens, Shujaa is drawn in a tricky pool C which features Fiji, New Zealand and Australia.
“It is a tough pool and the best team will win on that day. We have been struggling with inexperience but I am glad that now we have some experienced players back so we expect to have better results in Hong Kong and Singapore,” Murunga said.
With the team’s tackling ability having came under scrutiny in the previous six legs of the series, Murunga is optimistic that his charges will get better.
“Fiji is one of the teams that has been failing in their tackles but they still win games. You can have your weaknesses but they should not stop you from winning matches,” said Murunga.
Meanwhile, with other senior players having failed to resume duty, KRU Vice Chairman Thomas Opiyo said they are keen to have a full house before the end of the season.
“We are talking to everyone and those who are not yet back have their own reasons but we might have them returning before the end of the season,” Opiyo said.
Collins Injera, Billy Odhiambo, Oscar Ouma and Willy Ambaka are some of the players who are yet to resume duty with the national team.
