KCB eye national title after Dala Sevens win

Mark Kwemoi of Impala (right) tackles KCB's Andrew Amonde in the Dala Sevens, on Sunday. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

Dala Sevens champions KCB head coach Denis Mwanja is confident his side can clinch the national circuit title after ending a five-year wait before winning the Kisumu circuit.

KCB, who are also the Kakamega Sevens champions, defeated Kabeberi Sevens runner-up Menengai Oilers 30-5 to clinch their third Dala Sevens title in a tight final played over the weekend at the Mamboleo Showground, in Kisumu.

Kenya internationals Jacob Ojee, Michael Wanjala, Vincent Onyala, Andrew Amonde, Davis Chenge and new signing Levy Amunga scored a try each to put the game past the Oilers, who were playing their second consecutive final of the series.

KCB have now won two of the three Stanbic Bank National Sevens Series legs and Mwanja is confident they can go on to win the national series by replicating their Dala 7s performance in the remaining rounds.

Speaking with the Standard Sports, Mwanja congratulated his charges for stepping up after Kabeberi Sevens disappointment where they finished a distance fourth after losing to Nakuru.

“Congratulations to the lads for upping their game after the Kabeberi dismal show. Our focus now shifts to Nakuru for the Prinsloo. This victory will be a booster to the lads as we prepare to defend our Dala Sevens crown,” said Mwanja.

The Kisumu victory saw KCB leapfrog Mwamba and top the 2019 National Sevens Circuit with 59 points and Mwanja has urged his charges to continue working hard.

“We still have a long way to go and I wouldn’t like the two victories to get into my players’ heads. We are therefore going to train harder ahead of the Nakuru leg,” he added.

The bankers’ impressive run was capped by inclusion of their two players in the Dala Sevens Dream Team.

Top scorer Onyala and new star playmaker Johnstone Olindi are back in the Dream Team after missing out during the Kabeberi 7s.

Kenya Sevens player Onyala once again scooped all the three individual accolades after completing this feat in the first leg in Kakamega.

He was the top try scorer (with nine tries), top point scorer with 47 points and the Most Valuable Player.

Oilers have three players; Derrick Keyoga, Crispin Shitundo and Davis Nyaundi in the Dream Team.

Elsewhere, Kenya Harlequins are back in Division One after winning the Dala Sevens Division Two title.

Quins were relegated to Division Two after two unimpressive legs in the Kakamega and Kabeberi legs and head coach Charles Cardovillis is satisfied with his side’s performance.

“I’m happy the way the boys responded and played despite being relegated and playing in the lower division. Hard work paid and we are back to the big league where we hope to build and improve in the two remaining circuits,” he said.

Action shifts to the Prinsloo Sevens in Nakuru.