Gearing up for heavy task

By BS MULAVI

Kenya Harlequin forward Victor Oduor is back in the Kenya National Rugby Sevens team but he has set himself no limits as the national team prepares for the last two legs of the International Rugby Board Sevens circuit in London and Scotland.

Having been out for over a year with an arm injury, the burly forward has managed to fight his way back into the national side after some inspirational performances for his club in the Kenya and Enterprise cups.

"I will not set for myself any limits as to how many points we can achieve. That would be a lie," he said on how many points he hopes to win in the last two legs.

"We have to go there and aim for maximum points. This is possible by winning the main cup," he said.

"I think this is the most disappointing season in the past four seasons and we have to do what we can to salvage it in the last two legs," he added.

Oduor might play his first game against New Zealand, the same team he last played against two seasons ago.

"If I make it to the starting line up, I want to make my first game against New Zealand very significant, because it will mean a lot to me to start off from where I left."

Penultimate leg

Kenya are pooled against New Zealand, Wales and Spain for the penultimate leg in London on 21-22 May and the side will be hoping the experience that Oduor brings to the side will be able to change their recent spate of ‘bad luck’.

Oduor, however, dismissed claims that the recent poor performance of the team was due to his absence. "I think it has just been some bad luck as well as the team adjusting to a new combination of players," he said.

"When I got out, together with Allan Onyango, Victor Sudi and some old heads, we knew it might take some time for the team to adjust."

The former Mwamba RFC player went on to express his excitement at the prospect of playing alongside Nakuru RFC new boy Oscar Ouma.

"It is good to have another work horse playing with you. He is young, strong and very vibrant, so I am not looking to displace him. I think our partnership might blossom to something beautiful," added Oduor.

Ouma has been retained in the side by head coach Benjamin Ayimba to play in the Scotland and London legs with the young lad expected to be one of the stars of the team in the near future.