As Africa Cup tie , Safari Seven series go down at Kasarani

Kenya Sevens will field a new look team as they begin their Africa Cup title defence against Nigeria (12.06) and Senegal (7.16pm) in Pool A matches, at the Kasarani Stadium today before the main weekend’s event - Safari Sevens.

With most of the regular players, who featured in last year’s hard-fought 21-17 final victory over Zimbabwe in Johannesburg and the impressive 2015/16 World Rugby Sevens Series season unavailable due to various reasons, the technical bench has been forced to bring in new faces.

Conspicuously missing from the team despite being drafted in the 34-man provisional squad is all-time World Rugby Sevens Series leading try scorer Collins Injera, Oscar Ouma (Nakuru), Samuel Oliech (Impala) and Oscar Ayodi (Homeboyz).

The duo of Dan Sikuta (Kabras Sugar) and Augustine Lugonzo have opted to feature for Samurai International and National Sevens Series champions Homeboyz in the 21st edition of the Safari Sevens tournament respectively. While KCB sensation Darwin Mukidza is expected to turn up for unnamed visiting team.

But it will be a chance for the likes of Aluda Beda (Kabras Sugar), Lameck Dunde (Impala) and Alex Olaba (Strathmore) to impress in the continental show-piece ahead of the new season.

The Africa Cup squad to be handled by Paul Murunga, will be captained by experienced Homeboyz utility back Michael Wanjala as Andrew Amonde skippers the Benjamin Ayimba coached Kenya Shujaa side in the Safari Sevens tournament.

“Most of the regulars are not available and I don’t know what the problem is. Nobody has been dropped, but since the Kenya Rugby Union decided to select the squad for us, I will just be on the touchline to fulfill my promise,” Ayimba told Feverpitch.

“But it is a fact that this is not the best team Kenya can produce. Nobody has been dropped and the best people to answer those questions are the selectors and KRU because they are the ones who have been running the show. I’ve not talked to Injera (Collins) for a while, so I don’t know what could be the problem and I don’t know why Lugonzo opted to play for Homeboyz.”