Star-studded cast as Injera, Ambaka join a host of big names for Shujaa
World Rugby Sevens Series second all-time top scorer Collins Injera will be donning the Kenyan jersey again after being included in the Shujaa squad for this weekend’s Safari Sevens tournament.
In what will be the 23rd edition of the annual tournament set to take place at Kenya’s home of rugby RFUEA grounds in Nairobi, Injera will join a host of top names for Shujaa with captain Andrew Amonde, Willy Ambaka, Bush Mwale, Charles Omondi, Brian Wandera, Daniel Taabu, Nelson Oyoo, Michael Wanjala, Oscar Dennis, Jacob Ojee and debutant Michael Okello the others.
Injera last featured in the Safari sevens in 2013 as a Morans 13th man in a squad that was skippered by Fabian Olando under the tutelage of coach Felix Ochieng while his last appearance for Shujaa, in this tournament, was in 2012 when Kenya lost the finals to South Africa’s Springboks who will once again meet Injera on their return to Kenya.
Injera and Ambaka’s inclusion is also a good sign ahead of the 2019/20 World Sevens Series season given the two were among a host of top names who boycotted national team duties last year, due to a contract dispute that forced then coach Paul Murunga to field novices who became the whipping boys as Kenya survived relegation by a whisker.
Meanwhile, Kenya’s second string side, at the Safari Sevens, Morans will also have a star-studded cast.
Morans will be skippered by Homeboyz forward Jeff Oluoch with Vincent Onyala, Alvin Otieno, Johnstone Olindi, Dan Sikuta, Collins Shikoli and Herman Humwa the other names to look out for.
Morans will be first on the pitch against Uganda and also have South Africa and Burundi in Pool A while Shujaa headline Pool C that consist Zambia, Russia Academy and Blue Bulls from South Africa.
“We expect tough opposition from the strong teams that play World HSBC series like South Africa who will not only have four debutants but also key players like their top try scorer Cecil Afrika.
We are looking at three days of rugby and fun to be kicked off with age grade rugby on Friday,” said Kenya Rugby Union chairman Oduor Gangla yesterday.
Defending champions Samurai will headline the all-foreign teams Group B that include Red Wailers, Western Province from South Africa and Narvskaya Zastava from Russia while Pool D has Spain, Zimbabwe, Seventise and KCB.
