Kenya's Triple Charge In Dubai

Kenya will be fielding 3 teaMS in this weekend's Dubai sevens extravaganza. The Kenya Sevens will be participating in the main tournament, the Kenya Lionesses will be part of the International Invitation Women category and the Watembezi who will be battling it out in the International Veterans category.

It could be argued and rightfully so, that Dubai is where the Kenya 7s story started in earnest on the world stage with the Watembezi touring here in the early 80's. Ever since, Dubai has been kind to the Kenya teams who enjoy an almost fanatical support when they play.

Watembezi Pot Bellies

The Watembezi will be kicking off their tournament on Thursday against Jonesy's X-men in Pool A where they will also be meeting the defending champions the Xodus Steelers and the Malta Marauders. Last year the Watambezi Pot Bellies managed one win in their four matches, a 40-0 white wash of the Cairo Old Crocs.

This year's class will be looking to go one better than the last. Included in the ranks are current Mwamba chairman, Alvas Onguru, KRU CEO Jack Okoth, and the Kenya Lionesses  Strength and Conditioning coach Mike Shamiah. The squad is as follows :

1. John "Pablo" Machange (Forward)
2. Ian Matibe (Forward)
3. James Mutonyi (Forward)
4. Alvas Onguru (Forward)
5. Ken Ouma (Forward)
6. Jack Okoth (Back)
7. Hagono Francis (Forward)
8. Mike Shamiah (S.Half/Fly Half)
9. Paul "Polosa" Ombok (Back)
10. Don "Baba Jon Cina" Pendo (Back)
11. Francis Otieno (Back)
12. Gordon Raila (Wing/Full Back)
13. William Arega (Centre/Back)
14. Nessar Saad (Back)
15. Kenneth Wahome (Forward)

Management:
David Mshila Coach
Fred Mboss "TheBoss" Physio/TM
Doris "Tuzo" Mwanzia Co-ordinator

Their fixtures are as follows :

Thursday 28th November

8:40am Watembezi Potbellies vs Jonesy’s X-Men
10:40am Watembezi Potbellies vs Malta Marauders
12:20pm Xodus Steelers vs Watembezi Potbellies

Kenya Lionesses

The Kenya Lionesses who fell at the final last year will be looking to go all the way when they kick off their charge on Friday. This year's Women invitation category features 10 sides in two pools from last year's six side that played in a round robin format.

The Lionesses in action.

The Lionesses headline Pool A and are joined by UAE, Almaty RFC, Adler Sevens and the Swiss Barbarians, they kick off against the UAE a side they beat 12-5 Last year. The side comprises of the same core that reached that final with Doreen Remour leading the pride, Emily Woods and Stacy Owuor the only new inclusions from last year in Kevin Wambua's list :

Doreen Remour
Camilyne Oyuayo
Stacy Owuor
Irene Otieno
Rachel Mbogo
Janet Owino
Emily Woods
Philadelphia Olando
Mary Ochieng
Catherine Abila
Janet Okelo
Celestine Masinde

Non Travelling:
Mary Musieka
Vivian Cheserek
Linda Anyango

Management:
Kevin Wambua
Michael Shamiah
Doris Mwanzia
Ben Mahinda.

The timings for the Women's games are as below (Kenya Time):

Friday 29 November

08:20am Kenya Lionesses v UAE
11:00am Kenya Lionesses v Swiss Barbarians
13:20pm Kenya Lionesses v Al Maty RFC Women's
16:20pm Kenya Lionesses v Adler Sevens

The Kenya Sevens

After weeks of hard work, we will finally have a glimpse of the side under Paul Treu. For his first assignment as Kenya Sevens head coach, Treu has opted for a very young side, though bearing in mind that his hand was forced due to player unavailability, this is such an exciting squad.

Two new faces in Leonard Mugaisi and Humphrey Mulama of Homeboyz join the squad. Mugaisi, 22 has been knocking on the door for quite a while since making his national debut in a Chairman's select side in the 2011 Safari Sevens. He has been a sensation with his burst of pace for his club and was instrumental in the Homeboyz side that won the 2013 Kabeberi title.

Mugaisi with the after burners on in the Kabeberi Final.

Mulaa, 19, has had a faster route to the side, after impressing in the Kenya U19 side that finished second
in the continent a few months back. He was also part of that impressive Homeboyz side, before featuring in this year's Safari Sevens in the Morans. Treu has noted his hard tackling as his stand out attribute, he is also a very strong young lad.

Mulama taking on Mwamba in that final.

Andrew Amonde keeps the Captain's arm band, and is deputised by Collins Injera, the two will be looked up to in the dressing room alongside the likes of Horace Otieno who makes a come back after missing in Gold Coast. Oscar Ayodi and Michael Wanjala join Horace on the come back list, the rest of the squad is as was in the Gold Coast Leg.

With the unavailability of Oscar and Billy, Horace and Ayodi look set for a starting place, Horace at outside Prop and Ayodi either at centre or at wing depending on where the Choo choo train is deployed. The rest of
the squad picks itself, Patrice and Andrew in the Forwards with Wamae and Mulaa deputising, Ayange at sweeper Wanjala the deputy and Biko at Fly half with Eden on the bench.

One thing that will definitely be different in the side is the systems, especially in defence where the team has spent a lot of time working on. A more in your face approach is expected, applying more pressure on the ball, a shift from the flat line defence we used last season.

Our first look at the side will come early Friday Morning at 8:46 am when we take on Portugal, this as every first match, will be crucial. A strong start here will go a long way in settling the early nerves and set the tempo going into the rest of the matches, here are the timings for those matches :

Friday 29th November

08:46am Kenya v Portugal
13:16pm Kenya v France
18:16pm Kenya v New Zealand

We have met Portugal once from last season, winning that one, the Portuguese are known to play with a lot of intensity which can cause a lot of problems. With a physical edge over them, I expect us to pound them into submission.

This will be the fifth meeting with France since last season, with the Lions having a perfect 4 wins, the French will offer a bit more in terms of physicality but we should have enough to make it 5 in 5.

The match everyone will be waiting for is the last one against the All blacks, despite the thumping we received at the Gold Coast. This will be the 9th  meeting since last season, including a 7-27 loss here last year. Kenya have won one win in the eight played so far. Treu is one of the few men in sevens rugby that can say he knows how to handle Sir Gordon and rightfully so, it will be interesting to see how he goes about it with his new side.

A tricky pool all together the four sides in Pool A were cup quarter finalists here last year and with shaky starts in Gold Coast say apart from New Zealand, we will all be looking for a repeat performance here this year.

Action from last year.

We finished third here last year and a similar outcome you feel will be a good return for a the new management. With a few changes expected before the visit to Port Elizabeth next weekend, it is up to the young charges to grab this opportunity and stake their claim in the side.

If it doesn't happen in Dubai then it will definitely happen in South Africa, I am talking of Treu meeting his former side the Blitz Bokke, it will definitely be an interesting match up, one I will be looking forward to.

On a lighter note, with the Homeboyz trio of Oscar Ayodi, Leornard Mugaisi and Humphrey 'Mulaa' Mulama in the side, I wonder what moves they have cooked up for their celebrations..lakini Mulaa hawezi dance..

With that ladies and gents..all the best to the three sides, aaaannnnnnnnddddddd.....a Happy 2nd Birthday to us...


KWISHA...Nimeruka Nje!!