With excitement building across the rugby fans countrywide, Kenya rugby sevens head coach Kevin ‘Bling’ Wambua is set to name the Morans and Shujaa squad that will clash in this year’s Safari Sevens assignment to be held this weekend in Machakos county.
Following the conclusion of the national rugby sevens circuit, Louis Kisia, Shujaa assistant coach, cited that among the 35-man squad picked, only three players have sustained injuries and withdrawn from the squad.
“From the 35 players selected only three people have been ruled out. Collins Maina from Strathmore Leos was recommended for surgery after a physio scan and he underwent surgery…Then we also ruled out Elton Amalemba from Strathmore Leos because he has some issues with his groin and he was recommended for physio sessions.
Javan Otieno from Nakuru RFC has also been ruled out due to a niggling injury on his knee but he was booked for an MRI. So, we remained with 32 players who have been training with us, and it’s from that number that we will choose the two teams.”
Shujaa to Miss Key Players
Shujaa, which is the main team in Safari 7s will be missing their center-back John Okoth and half-back Brian Tanga all key players undergoing knee and wrist surgery respectively.
“We are missing services of John Okoth and Brian Tanga who were injured during the local circuit and they both underwent successful surgeries on the hand and the fibula on the leg; so, they are out till next year”.
Co-captain Vincent Onyala (pictured above), Lamech Ambetsa, and Nygel Amaitsa are also nursing minor injuries picked from the grueling safari sevens circuit and are being monitored by the technical bench.
“Christian Ojwang is also nursing a small groin injury and has been doing rehab with the physio and strength conditioning coach Andrew Amonde. Nygel Amaitsa also picked an injury on the ankle and we are yet to get recommendations from the physio and then name the two teams”.
National Rugby to Field Four Teams
Kenya Rugby is expected to field four teams in the national sevens circuit and, cup winners, Kenya Harlequins, have vowed to retain their victory in the Safari Sevens this year. Flagship team Shujaa, Morans, and a select university side will join the reigning champs, Harlequins, for the clash of the titans.
The 2024 Safari Sevens action is set to bring Machakos to a standstill with unforgettable high-octane rugby competition from Friday morning.
The highly anticipated rugby tournament will kick off with electrifying moments as elite teams from across the country expected to set up shop at the Kenyatta Stadium to showcase their top-tier talent.
Furthermore, the real action crescendo will happen later in the afternoon with each senior team taking up the field to play one match and officially kick off their campaign.
