Oilers set for Homeboyz challenge at Kakamega Sevens

Barry Otieno of Homeboyz RFC during the Great Rift 10-a-side. [Kipsang Joseph]

Menengai Oilers head coach Gibson Weru is looking forward to their match against defending champions Homeboyz when the 2019 National Sevens Circuit starts next weekend, in Kakamega 

The two sides will face off in the preliminaries after they were drawn in a pool A that also has Impala Saracens and Western Bulls.

Bulls and Kabras Sugar are joint hosts of the two-day tournament.

With more established players within their ranks, two-time National Sevens Circuit winners Homeboyz and Impala are favourites to progress from the pool but Weru says his charges will be out to upset the odds. 

“I think this is the tournament’s pool of death. They are all tough opponents but I always like being challenged. It will depend on how we perform especially against the defending champions and we shall be ready for the task,” Weru told The Standard Sports after the Kakamega Sevens draws were announced.

Oilers will launch their quest against Impala in what will be the first match of the tournament before they face Homeboyz and Bulls.

Having seen his charges crowned champions of the Nakuru 10-a-aside in April as well as last weekend’s Embu Sevens, the former Kenya Sevens scrum-half believes his team has come of age in the shorter version of the game.

“All teams in our pool are Kenya Cup sides and it will be interesting to face them. We have been preparing well and our target will be to qualify for the Cup quarters,” said Weru.

“Winning the last two tournaments was very encouraging and it’s a huge morale booster for my boys.”

In a bid to bolster his playing unit, Weru has roped in six new players among them, Kenya under-20 international Samson Were, who has joined the Nakuru outfit from Laiser Hill Academy.

Other new signings at the club are Eliud Salamba from Makueni RFC, Ian Omoke, Emmanuel Mula, Steve Arunga and Adams Nyaweya from Mang’u High School.

“We were lucky to retain our players and that’s a good thing for a coach because you can build on continuity,” said Weru.