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Fingers crossed as half of Tokyo-bound Lionesses’ team held in isolation

Monday, July 19th, 2021 19:22 | By
Kenya Lionesses during a training session in Kurume. PHOTO/NOC-K
Kenya Lionesses during a training session in Kurume. Photot/NOC-K

Kenya women's national rugby sevens team, Lionesses' preparations in Tokyo, Japan for the upcoming Olympics has been affected greatly after half of the team was forced to isolate following one of the passengers travelling with them testing positive for Covid-19.

After the first batch of the team arrived in Kurume City a few days ago, the second set of six players was set to join them on Sunday for full house training.

However, with all the six players held in isolation, head coach Felix Oloo has admitted having problems balancing between the players in camp and those isolated.

"It is quite a tricky balance because of having a very young squad with three or four senior players and having three senior players here and one on the other side with the young players. It is quite tricky. But as a technical department, we have to be above board and do what we really need to do or what needs to be done," coach Oloo said.

He said that preparations are nonetheless going on well for those in camp, while for those in isolation, they are engaging them as much as possible through zoom meetings in the evening.

"The girls do share what they have done daily, they keep talking among themselves, but I believe as much as the other girls are struggling mentally, there is the aspect of adapting to the environment because most of them are still sleeping as late as 5 am. So it is still quite a challenge," Oloo offered.

On the precautions taken by Japan to try and curb the spread of the disease, coach Oloo hailed the host and the organisers for putting health matters first for all Olympians going and staying in Tokyo the entire time of the games.

“For me, health always comes first. I would laud them for the strictness. The only part I feel we could have done better, shouldn’t have allowed ourselves as Kenyans to travel with the other passengers because we wouldn’t be in this problem if we hadn’t mixed. They have had more than six tests and none of our girls has turned positive. But simply because of the protocols we signed, we have to see how we can sort it.” Oloo concluded.

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