Shujaa seek to bounce back in Vancouver after a blip at Olympic
Rugby
By
Washington Onyango
| Sep 18, 2021
After a disappointing performance at the Tokyo Olympics where the national men’s rugby sevens team finished ninth, Shujaa will be aiming to impress at the opening round of the 2021-2022 World 7s Series-Vancouver Sevens, in Canada today.
Kenya, who are pooled in Group A together with African heavyweights South Africa, Spain and Mexico will play Spain in their opening match at the BC Place Stadium tonight (8.31pm).
They will then take on invitational side Mexico at 11:42 pm before clashing with their perennial rivals South Africa tomorrow morning (3:35am).
Shujaa coach Innocent Simiyu will be hoping the likes of Mark Kwemoi, Levy Amunga, Alvin Marube, Derrick Keyoga and Timothy Mmasi impress on their World 7s Series debut.
"It is an interesting pool where we have Springboks whom we have played regularly but also unfamiliar foes in Mexico. Spain is another tricky side but we are going to work ourselves and ensure we take each game at a time and execute our tactics well,” said Simiyu.
READ MORE
Ombudsman orders ministry to bin unlawful Sh30 SMS charge for Grade 10 placement results
How Kenya is now positioning itself as top sports destination
Zimbabwe cabinet agrees plan to extend president's term to 2030
EACC goes after Kaberia, Mwendwa over Sh330m in CHAN stadium scam
Relief as government plans tax cuts for low-income earners
Why Turkey climate summit must bring hope to agriculture sector
Infantino condemns Senegal for 'unacceptable scenes' in AFCON final
New regulations will unlock untapped potential of solar water heating
Why Africa should step up efforts to reduce methane emissions
Government lists 14 areas in Narok County as security-disturbed, dangerous
Simiyu named Nelson Oyoo as captain while Willy Ambaka, Herman Humwa, Alvin Otieno, Daniel Taabu, Jeff Olouch and Billy Odhiambo all have maintained their places in the team.
KCB trio of Jacob Ojee, Vincent Onyala and Johnstone Olindi are some of the notable absentees in the team alongside Dan Sikuta of Kabras Sugar.
Simiyu said he will be using the four upcoming tournaments in Vancouver, Edmonton, Dubai as part of their preparations for the Commonwealth Games slated for next year in Birmingham and the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town in September.
“Our key focus in the first two tournaments is to get our game going and start hitting those performance targets early enough in the season. If we can be able to play in the quarters and semis, it will be a very big plus in this journey that is heading towards the Commonwealth Games and World Cup,” he concluded.