How Shujaa made it to 2020 Tokyo Olympics
Rugby
By
Clement Wekulo
| Nov 11, 2019
The team turns attention to the 2019-20 World Sevens Series which kicks off with the Dubai leg next month.
Kenya men’s rugby Sevens coach Paul Feeney attributed their Africa Sevens win over the weekend to the work ethic exhibited by his players.
Shujaa thrashed Uganda 31-0 in the final of the continental event to cap a brilliant perfomance at the two-day tournament in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The win saw the team qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games slated for Tokyo, Japan between July and August.
With the absence of South Africa’s Blitzboks, the Andrew Amonde-led side proved to be shoulders above the rest as they scored tries for fun while conceding only four in the six matches they played.
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“We were somewhat sluggish in the beginning but we improved and scored some good tries. Our passing was nice and crispy which was very pleasing to watch,” Feeney told Rugby Africa.
It was a perfect response from Kenya after they lost to Zimbabwe in the final of last year’s edition in Tunisia and Feeney will be hoping his charges carry that form to the World Sevens Series that start next month with the Dubai Sevens.
“The boys played very well. We had a plan of how we wanted to play in this tournament. The players worked very hard throughout the competition. They trained for 11 weeks non-stop, so I am very proud of them. We will take a break then prepare for the 2019-20 World Rugby Sevens Series,” the New Zealander said.
Kenya became the 10th team to qualify for the Summer Games, joining hosts Japan as well as the quartet of Fiji, USA, New Zealand and South Africa, who booked their tickets by virtue of finishing in the top four during the 2018-19 World Sevens Series.
Great Britain, Canada, Argentina and Australia were crowned champions in their respective regions.
Meanwhile, Shujaa players who will do duty in the 2019-20 season are set to be handed new contracts this week, according to Kenya Rugby Union Chairman Oduor Gangla.
“I had a conversation with the Technical Director on the contracts and we are finalising on this on Monday (Today) once you come back from South Africa,” Gangla said last week while addressing players.
At the season-opening Dubai leg, Kenya is in pool D with South Africa, England and Spain.