Tough battle as top guns contest: Coach Murunga oozes confidence ahead of today’s tie

THE TOP FRY GREAT RIFT 10 ASIDE Brian Juma of Menegai cream Homeboyz battles for the ball with Cassius Omolo of Top Fry Nakuru RFC during the Quarter Finals of The top Fry Great Rift 10 Aside at Nakuru Athletics club (NAC ) on April 16, 2017 .PHOTO:KIPSANG JOSEPH

Big test for Homeboyz as Driftwood Sevens start in Mombasa.

Homeboyz RFC head coach Paul Murunga is confident that his team will retain the National Sevens Circuit title.

The Deejays, who clinched their first ever overall series title last year with a massive 123 points after gracing all the six finals, headlines Pool A of this weekend’s opening Driftwood Sevens leg in Mombasa.

Despite being drawn against the 2015 circuit champions Nakuru, Kenyatta University’s Blak Blad and guest team Western Bulls, the former national sevens team assistant coach is optimistic of starting on a positive note at the Coast.

“Our preparations for this season are geared towards defending the overall title. I have seen good initiative from the players who are well aware of the task at hand,” Murunga said.

“Every tournament on the series will count, the first tournament in Mombasa will be crucial in gauging how we have prepared. I am pretty sure the other teams have prepared well and will be out to play well as they want to dethrone us but we are ready for them,” he added.

Impressive performance

But it will not be an easy ride for the Deejays this season as Driftwoods holders Kenya Harlequins, who are in Pool B alongside four-time circuit champions Mwamba, Menengai Oilers and another guest side, Kisii RFC are out to prove a point.

Quins coach Joash Odhalo says he is motivated by his side’s impressive performance in their friendly matches against Homeboyz, Mwamba, Nondescripts, Daystar Falcons and Kenya Lionesses in the past week.

“Preparations have gone well for both S&C and technically. We’ve had a few training games and had a feel of what we are up against, for us we are focused on firing our cylinders from the first tournament which we won last year by being efficient and executing what we have worked on,” Odhalo said. “The rest is having the right attitude come game time and we will be always Sure, Strong, Superior.”

Kenya Harlequins will take on four time national sevens circuit champions Mwamba before they clash with Menengai Oilers and Resolution Kisii RFC in pool ‘B’ matches.

National Sevens Circuit defending champions Menengai Cream Homeboyz have been seeded first in Pool ‘A ‘ and are expected to overcome stiff challenge from 2015 circuit champions Top Fry Nakuru RFC, Blak Blad and Western Bulls in order to make it to the knockout stages.

Resolution Impala Saracens and Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) are the teams expected to advance to the knockout stages from Pool C, which also has University of Nairobi’s Mean Machine and hosts Mombasa Sports Club.

Pool D has Strathmore Leos, Kabras Sugar and Nondescripts and  and last year’s overall second division winners KCA University.