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By BS Mulavi
Impala will today depart for the Singapore Cricket Club Sevens rugby tournament between November 6 and 8.
Impala are regulars for the tournament that brings together teams from all over the world. The event has gained popularity due to the level of competition and the number of high profile teams’ participations.
Teams have taken a liking to the tournament due to its position on the calendar that falls three weeks before the opening two legs of the International Rugby Board Sevens circuit in Dubai and South Africa. This gives coaches a final chance to assess players and get their systems going.
National side
Most teams in the tournament participate under the guise of a club name to offset the pressure that comes while playing as the national side. A common feature in the tournament are South Africa Vipers who, the defending champions.
Impala will travel with an exclusive side that were due to be named later yesterday after final preparation.
"We expect tough competition from teams like Fiji, Scotland and South Africa, but I believe we can mount a strong challenge as a club," said Impala team manager, Nick Abok.
He ruled out any chance of including national team players from outside Impala saying: "Previously we used to travel with a select side, but this time we will go it alone."
Impala are in ripe form having bagged three major trophies and now set their sights on the national sevens circuit.
"I don’t believe we would have done the national squad a disservice because when our players come back they will be better placed to serve the team," Abok added.
Last season
"We hope to go a step further in the tournament compared to last season when we only managed to reach the quarter-finals," said Abok.
The team leave at 3pm and will know their opponents on Thursday when the tournament draw will be conducted. Impala will not miss any local action this weekend with teams preparing for the national sevens circuit which kicks of in Kisumu on November 14.
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