Namcos retains Feeney’s squad
National Sevens Rugby head coach Innocent ‘Namcos’ Simiyu yesterday stuck with the team initially named by his predecessor New Zealand’s Paul Feeney as he named a provisional squad of 29 players to begin preparations for the new season.
According to a communique from the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) secretariat yesterday, the 29 invited players yesterday went through medical and physical assessments.
Long serving captain Andrew Amonde leads a squad of six players from league giants KCB, while other key players in the squad include top scorer Collins Injera, Billy Odhiambo, Impala’s Sammy Oliech, Willy Ambaka of Quins, Nakuru duo of Oscar Ouma and Nelson Oyoo, Dan Sikuta of Kabras and Nondies’ Dennis Ombachi.
Simiyu had initially hinted at maintaining the same squad as he claimed that he had, not had time to gauge the players after the suspension of sports in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
He took over from New Zealand’s Paul Feeney, who was at the helm between September 2019 and June 2020, having qualified the nation for Tokyo 2020.
“Due to the covid19 pandemic and following guidelines put in place by the government as well as World Rugby, we have started with Shujaa who underwent their covid19 tests on 10th November 2020,” the statement from KRU read.
It added: “The Lionesses will follow the same process in due course.”
Meanwhile, Simiyu is expected to go for a team of tried and tested backroom staff in his second stint at the helm of Shujaa.
The rumour mills have it that the former Kenya Sevens and 15s skipper will revert to the core of his team that did duty between 2016 and 2018.
Simiyu was given a free hand to select his management team although he is expected to pick on individuals who are qualified in their specific fields.
