Kenya intends to send a much stronger team to year’s Tangier seven-a-side tournament next month.
National coach Benjamin Ayimba said he will use the tournament in Tunisia to work on a combination of players he intends to select for the last two legs of the International Rugby Board Sevens World Series in London and Scotland. “With the injuries in the team, we have to change our technical approach and it is important for the players to get more game situation preparations,” the coach explained.
Some of the players he is thinking of giving more game time in Tunisia are Philip Moturi, Leon Adongo, Allan Makaka, Wilson K’Opondo, Paul Oketch, George Mbaye, Cyprian Shimenga, Mathew Musita, Samuel Wefwafwa, Paul Murunga, Horace Otieno, Joshua Gathumbi and Horace Otieno. “We have a squad of 24 players and all are ready for national duty,” the coach added. This was in answer to how he will pick teams for the Mosi, Safari Sevens and Tangier Sevens. “Our main challenge is to qualify for the next Rugby World Cup Sevens,” he maintained.
Kenya has in the meantime been invited for a training camp by the South Africa Sevens team. Kenya received a similar invitation before the last two legs of the IRB Sevens World Series tournaments in Hong Kong and Adelaide but were unable to travel because the notice was too short and Ayimba and his technical bench were unable to assemble a strong side.
The invitation was made by the South Africa coach Paul Treu who honed his skills at the Safari Sevens. ‘It is a good gesture from the current runners-up in the IRB Sevens World Series and would give us an extra edge in the UK,” Ayimba acknowledged. If honoured, the players are expected in South Africa on May 7, almost at the same time as another team will be in Tunisia for the Tangier Sevens.
