Rugby: Ojee returns to Shujaa squad

 

Jacob Ojee (right) in action against Scotland's Max McFarland during the World Rugby Sevens Series at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton on January 26. [AFP]

Kenya Sevens captain Jacob Ojee is among four players who have been recalled by Shujaa head coach Paul Murunga ahead of the final two legs of the 2018-19 World Sevens Series.

The 82,000-seater Twickenham stadium in London will host the penultimate round of the campaign next weekend before the 10-legged series culminates with the Paris Sevens starting June 1.

Ojee makes a comeback having missed the Hong Kong and Singapore legs due to academic commitments. Apart from the KCB winger, Homeboyz trio of Cyprian Kuto, Brian Wandera and Charles Omondi have also made a return to the squad which departs for London on Monday night.

“I am happy to be back in the team so that we can achieve our set targets in these last two legs of the series. I am going to put my best foot forward,” said Kuto, who had been sidelined with a hip injury sustained at the Vancouver Sevens.

Nondescripts’ Oscar Dennis, alongside Augustine Lugonzo, Mark Wandeto and Mean Machine skipper Shadon Munoko have all failed to make the cut after being named for the last two tournaments.

Shujaa are currently languishing at position 13 with 26 points, four more than Japan who occupy the relegation spot.

They will, therefore, head to London as relegation candidates and anything short of a cup quarter final appearance could prove costly.

“We have been working on our weak areas in the last one month after the team returned from Hong Kong. We have also built upon our team plays since all the players have trained together for long,” Ojee said.

Coach Murunga has opted to stick with the bulk of the squad which did duty in Asia with former captain Andrew Amonde, Dan Sikuta, Daniel Taabu, Bush Mwale, Vincent Onyala, Jeffrey Oluoch, Eden Agero and Nelson Oyoo all being retained.

At the London tournament, the Kenyans are drawn in a pool B which features Fiji, Samoa and France.

With this season’s series acting as a qualifier to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Paul Murunga’s men are assured of not qualifying via this route as only the top four sides will book automatic slots to Japan. As it stands the USA, Fiji, New Zealand and South Africa occupy the four positions.

Shujaa squad to London, Paris

Vincent Onyala, Andrew Amonde, Jacob Ojee(KCB), Bush Mwale, Charles Omondi, Cyprian Kuto, Jeffrey Oluoch, Johnstone Olindi, Brian Wandera(Homeboyz), Eden Agero (Kenya Harlequin), Nelson Oyoo(Nakuru RFC), Daniel Taabu(Mwamba), Dan Sikuta (Kabras)