Defending Africa sevens champions Shujaa, will be placing the title they won in Mombasa on the line, against 15 other countries in Harare at the weekend.
The side which departed for Harare yesterday features none of the players who won that title a little over a year ago at the coast. The squad of 12 draws is a good mixture of youth, drawing from the players that impressed at this year’s Safari Sevens.
Head coach Gibson Weru will be taking on his first major assignment after a successful Safari 7s. Brain Omondi, Samuel Motari, Peter Kilonzo, Shaban Ahmed and Charles Odhiambo will be joined by Brian Wandera on the list of national débutantes.
Billy Isabwa who represented the country in both the sevens and fifteens codes at U-19 category will be making his first bow for the senior side. Philip Owuor who represented the country in the 15s squad at the Elgon cup will be making his first appearance in the sevens squad.
The 8 will be joined by faces who have featured for the Kenya 7s side in Davis Chenge, Humphrey Mulama, Jacob Ojee and Martin Owila.
It is a very good looking squad, with just the right components to run rings around anyone. In Martin Owila, Philip Owuor, Charles Odhiambo, Brian Wandera, Humphrey Mulama and Davis Chenge, Gibu has a great and complete set of forwards.
After his exploits at the Gold coast, Jacob Ojee will be the main man at the backs, alongside either Shaban Ahmed or Billy Isabwa they will be a potent combination. Brian Omondi, Samuel Motari and Peter Kilonzo all explosive runners that can be deployed at centre or wing.
The Shujaa are in Pool B in a hectic 2 pool, 16 team format, alongside neighbours Uganda, hosts Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Namibia and Ivory Coast. Pool A consists of South Africa, Tunisia, Madagascar, Zambia, Senegal and Botswana.
They begin their title defence against Namibia, in the first of 4 matches lined up on day 1. They then play hosts Zimbabwe, in a replay of last year’s final. The Shujaa then play Nigeria before wrapping Day 1 action against Uganda. They play their last pool fixture against Ivory Coast on Sunday.
A real tough and tricky run of fixtures kicking off against Namibia who finished without a win last year, they will definitely look to make a statement here early. Our toughest challenge should come from Zimbabwe and Uganda.
Uganda bowed out at the Plate semis last year, they carry some of the faces that played in Mombasa and having put in a great amount of work, they will be looking to get one over the Shujaa. Zimbabwe narrowly lost 24-19 in the final last year and also having a few of the faces that were in that squad they will be looking for revenge at the earliest possible time.
The biggest challengers for that title in the list of 16 has to be South Africa who did not participate last year, alongside Tunisia who finished third in Mombasa.
The top two sides from each pool will play in the cup semi finals, with the third and fourth place finishers playing in the plate. The bottom two competing in the Bowl.
It will be a great run out for the side, a great stage to gauge how far our depth goes in the sevens. With continental bragging rights at stake and a possible promotion for the players to the Kenya 7s expect a great showing here.
Not mentioning that this competition will be used as an Olympic qualifier next year, thus it will be great if we stay perched at the top of the pecking order in the continent.
The timings for the games and the full squad :
11:10 am – Kenya vs Namibia
1:40 pm – Kenya vs Zimbabwe.
3:30 pm – Kenya vs Nigeria
6:40 pm – Kenya vs Uganda
Sunday 11:10 am – Kenya vs Ivory Coast
Martin Owila, Humphrey Mulama, Peter Kilonzo, Brian Omondi, Billy Isabwa, Charles Odhiambo, Jacob Ojee, Philip Owuor, Samuel Motari, Davis Chenge, Brian Wandera, Shabani Ahmed.
KWISHA….Nimeruka Nje!!!
