Could This Be The Time For Kenya 7s?

After 14 seasons in the sevens world series, could this season be the one that finally ends our wait for a cup title? Could this be lucky number 15?

The Kenya sevens side to Gold Coast arrived in Brisbane on September 30th, a good eleven days before the start of the tournament. In previous years the team usually arrives during the week of the tournament with less than six days of preparation. This by itself gives us an edge over the rest of the sides apart from maybe the hosts.

Last season was the closest we have come to lifting a cup title, we have managed to keep hold of the same pool of players apart from Willie Ambaka who is contracted to France's Lou Rugby. Apart from the gigantic centre, other notable absentees will be the diminutive figures of Big M and Chris Brown. Big gaps to fill by any standards, especially for the last two.

In Ambaka's position, the young and equally marauding Billy 'Blanks' Odhiambo has been called up, alongside the more tactical Fabian 'Rango' Olando. Between the two I feel we have adequately covered the gap left by Ambaka and even added an extra edge that Olando brings. Billy would be more of a direct replacement, the two are almost the same size and prefer a more direct route. Olando, not a small boy by any standard gives the best of both worlds of flair and brute.

Since Big M left, a man I like to refer to as the god father of Kenya sevens, Felix 'Totti' Ochieng has since taken over, in a care taker capacity. Totti has seen all there is to see as far as sevens rugby goes, having been in the Kenya set up for the last 18 years. He was Friday's assistant through last season, and he handled most of the day to day running of the side due to Friday's hectic schedule.

The God Father.. (Photo - SportOn)

Chris Brown's impact was definitely the most visible, after roughly a month with the players you could see that they turned into beasts. During last season he was under studied by one Mike 'Masti' Owino who has since Brown's exit, been handling the strength and conditioning department. To assist in this Sprints coach Geoffrey 'Fly Man' Kimani has been recalled into the sevens set up.

Kim had worked under Benjamin Ayimba and Mitch Ochola, he was part of the technical bench in that 08/09 side has drawn numerous comparisons to last season's. When asked about his inclusion in the technical side, KRU Chairman pointed out that there was a need for the side to match their sizes with speed.

The 12 to Gold Coast will be led by the inspirational Andrew Amonde, he will be deputised by flyer Collins Injera. An exciting inclusion in the side is definitely that of '20 year old' Dan Skuta, who was preferred to Davis Chenge. Skuta's call up has been on the cards for a while now, and after his performance for Mwamba in the local circuit there was no denying him.

To complete the forwards line up is Oscar Ouma, Phillip Wamae and Patrice Agunda. In the backs, veteran Sidney Ashioya is joined by Felix Ayange, Eden Agero, Fabian Olando, Billy Odhiambo Collins Injera and Biko Adema. A well balanced side with a lot of experience on the world series and also carries a lot in terms of versatile players.

My preferred seven would be :

1. Oscar Ouma
2. Patrice Agunda
3. Andrew Amonde
4. Felix Ayange
5. Biko Adema
6. Fabian Olando
7. Collins Injera

With Skuta coming on for either Ouma or Amonde, Wamae for Agunda, Billy for Olando or Injera, Ashioya for Ayange, Agero for Adema. Those subs could go either way really but whichever seven Totti settles for it will be a formidable side able to take on anyone.

Skuta in action for local club Mwamba. 

A scary fact that I have just realised, take a minute and look at the names that we have left back home... Horace Otieno, Dennis Ombachi, Davis Chenge, Joshua 'Mr. Kampala' Chisanga, Tony Owour, Lavin Asego, Oscar Ayodi..that is just a few, yes scary isn't it, veery...

We will meet Tonga at 3: 52 am Saturday which should be a tricky encounter, the islanders are known to be quite unpredictable. A solid win here should set the ball rolling to the next game against USA at 6:58 am, the Eagles under new coach Matt Hawkins will be another tough customer, we have not lost to the two in the last season and I don't see us starting now.

The game at 11:40 am will be against an all too familiar foe, the All blacks. We met the kiwis a total of five times last season, winning once. The all blacks have been beating us by very small margins in terms of game play, a margin that usually doesn't show on the score board. This season we are a bit older, thus wiser, we should offer even a stiffer challenge.

With Totti at the helm, I hope to see a bit more flair added to our play, without necessarily dropping in the physicality that we flourished on last season. We should be a bit more 'street wise' as far as playing the break down is concerned. Apart from that not much should change from last season.

Last year in Gold Coast, Mike Friday made his statement to the world, finishing fourth with a Kenya side that few gave a chance. This will be Totti's chance, to silence his doubters and make a statement of his own. His will be a slightly tougher task, to be able to match Big M's achievements and surpass that mark. A task that the god father will definitely be up to..

With that ladies and gentlemen....I do believe, strongly so, that this will be the season to end our cup drought, and that it could end sooner than most of you think..


KWISHA....Nimeruka Nje!!!!