Kenya face daunting task: Coach upbeat squad will improve pecking order

Kenya rugby sevens playes Humphery Kayange (with the ball) with his teammates Oscar Ouma and Willie Ambaka in training session ahead of Rio Olympics 2016 at Nandi Bears Club in Nandi County on July 18, 2016.[PHOTO:DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD]

Shujaa take on USA, Samoa and Canada in the fourth HSBC Sevens World Series.

Kenya Sevens Head Coach Innocent Simiyu is confident the national team will do well in the fourth round of the HSBC Sevens World Series in the Hamilton Sevens in New Zealand this weekend.

Kenya, currently ninth on the overall standings with 23 points from three legs after garnering ten points from last weekend’s Sydney Sevens, are in Group D alongside Mike Friday’s USA, Samoa and Canada.

Shujaa were due to face Samoa this morning at 1.00am before locking horns with Canada at 4.26am. They will then wrap up their preliminary round with a clash against the USA at 8.22am.

“We have a tough pool but I believe we have done our homework well and trust players will play with pride and impress us all. Our key focus is to meet our performance targets especially in attack. Hopefully we will get the results we all want,” Simiyu told Kenya Rugby.

Reflecting on the side’s performance in Australia where they reached the cup quarterfinal, the former national sevens and fifteens teams captain said; “The team played well and believe they still have a lot to play for in Hamilton.”

Meanwhile, Shujaa and Kenya women’s rugby team, the Lionesses have been drawn against African opposition at the upcoming 2018 Commonwealth Games-rugby sevens competitions in Gold Coast, Australia. Shujaa are pooled alongside New Zealand, Canada and Zambia in Group C.