Five debutants make Shujaa squad

KCB winger Jacob Ojee will captain the national Sevens team, Shujaa, at the third and fourth rounds of the 2018-19 World Sevens Series scheduled for New Zealand and Australia respectively. 

This was disclosed by the team’s head coach Paul Murunga as he named his squad for the two tournaments at the Kenya Rugby Union headquarters yesterday. 

Ojee, who is also a member of the national 15s side, makes a return to the shorter version of the game after a four-year absence, his last involvement with Shujaa having been in 2014.

“After suffering an injury, I had to put in a lot of work to get back to the team and it’s a nice feeling to have made the return,” Ojee said. 

It is double pleasure for the lanky winger, who was also appointed captain for the two tournaments, filling the void left by Kenya Harlequin’s Eden Agero. 

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“It’s not completely a new thing for me since I have been representing the 15s team. Our performance has been gradually improving and I know with enough support, we shall collect more points in Hamilton,” Ojee said. 

Homeboyz pair of Bush Mwale and Michael Wanjala are the other returnees to the squad and they will be joined by five dubutants. 

Those in line for their maiden apperances in national colours are William Reeve, Eliakim Kichoi, Mark Wandeto, Brian Wandera and Harold Anduvate. 

Kenya’s top try scorer at the Dubai and Cape Town Sevens Johnstone Olindi has also made the cut so has Mwamba’s Daniel Taabu. 

Shujaa will be seeking for a change of fortunes having managed only two wins from the first two legs of the series. 

They are currently ranked 14th with a paltry four points. 

In Sydney, Murunga’s men are drawn in a pool B that has series defending champions South Africa, Scotland and France. 

The Hamilton Sevens takes place next weekend with the Sydney tournament happening a week later. 

The team is scheduled to depart for New Zealand on Saturday. 

Meanwhile, following the resignation of Geoffrey Kimani as Shujaa strength and conditioning coach, the Kenya Rugby Union has hired Mike Shamiah as his replacement.