Its 3.30 pm, Tuesday 12th December 2014, an exhausted Kenya Women’s National Team Manager has all but given up on the team going to Dubai. The much awaited news on the tickets isn’t forthcoming. She seems deep in thought, the despair on her face is evident.
The team has been training for this trip for a month and a half. For the past 7 years they have been attending the Dubai Invitational women’s tournament without fail. For a very long time it was the ONLY 7s International fixture, until the recently introduced CAR Women 7s.
Despite the lack of the recovery soup and training allowances, the team soldiered on – hope being their driving force, their passion for the game fueling their desire to come back and train the next day. At some point the team was disbanded then recalled, it has always been a roller-coaster ride for them with the only thing keeping them together being their love for rugby.
Angela Olum is not new to women’s rugby, she is among the pioneers. The former player now team manager has been camping at the KRU offices following up on the status of the Dubai trip for 2 weeks. Today she hopes that the cancellation and reinstatement of the trip [which has been the norm all along] will be clarified – her underlying desire being that the team travels to Dubai.
She has notified the players to be on standby and the joy on her face when she gets the go-ahead to inform the players to head to the airport is an indication of fulfillment of a desire. A few praises to God and she starts counter checking with her travelling checklist.
The Kenya Lionesses departed on 2nd December at 7 pm for Dubai. Kenya is in Pool B alongside Wales, Moscow Region,Georgia 7s and Irish National Women’s team. Pool A sees defending champions Almaty RFC pitted against Angels, Tuks Ladies, Tribe 7s and WC Vikings.
Last year they bowed out at the semi final stage, with all that has happened before this trip, their desire to beat that mark just got bigger!
Biggest challenge in this pool should come from the Irish, who played in the main Women’s tournament last year, even though they failed to win a single match. Moscow region should be the other challengers, they were also losing semi finalists in this tournament, last year.
Travelling squad
Doreen Remour – Captain, Sandra Nakhumicha, Mary Musieka, Irene Owino, Linet Moraa, Celestine Masinde, Janet Owino, Rachel Adhiambo, Philadelphia Olando, Camilyne Awuor, Catherine Abilla, Janet Okello. Angela Olum – TM, Kevin Wambua – Head Coach, Ben Mahinda – Physio.
Order of play
Thursday, 4th December 2014
9:40 am – Wales Women’s National vs Kenya Lionesses
1:40 pm – Kenya Lionesses vs Moscow Region
3:30 pm – Georgia 7s vs Kenya Lionesses
7:04 pm – Kenya Lionesses vs Irish National Women’s Sevens
Happy Hunting Kenya Lionesses!
