Kenya psyched for Singapore leg

Kenyan rugby player Collins Injera attends a press conference for the Singapore Rugby Sevens tournament in Singapore on April 11, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / ROSLAN RAHMAN

Kenya’s Sevens rugby team is “pumped up” about their chances at defending its Singapore title this weekend against the likes of Olympic champions Fiji and series leaders South Africa, one of its top players said yesterday.

In spite of a rough season this year, Kenyan star player Collins Injera, who until last weekend held the record for most number of tries scored in the Sevens circuit, said the familiar stomping ground of the Singapore Sports Hub has helped the team’s morale.

“We’ve had an up-down season, not really been hitting our targets,” Injera said in a media conference.

“Coming into this one, we are pumped up by history. We just have to take one game at a time and starting with the first game, against Argentina, which will be crucial for us.”

Kenya pulled off a stunning 30-7 upset over Fiji in last year’s final. The victory was Kenya’s first tournament win in a world series event despite making the final in two previous editions -Australia in 2009 and New Zealand in 2013.

“Winning a leg, makes you a target for other teams. Every team will want to put up a good show against you. For us, it has been tough,” Injera said.