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New Shujaa coach Kevin Wambua has given the nod to players who have been impressive in the National Sevens Circuit as Kenya target an Olympics ticket in Zimbabwe next month
Alvin ‘Buffa’ Otieno will be among the big names missing when Kenya Sevens battle for an Olympics ticket at the Africa Sevens in Zimbabwe from September 16-17.
New Shujaa coach Kevin ‘Bling’ Wambua has named a 36-man provisional squad for his first assignment with players who have shone for their clubs during the ongoing Kenya National Sevens Circuit given the nod as well as some Kenya Sevens regulars.
However, Buffa did not make the squad and it is not clear if his absence is injury-enforced or tactical from the new technical bench.
Among the star players in the provisional squad is Kabras Sugar’s Jone Kubu, the Fijian-born flyhalf who will be hoping to turn out for Kenya Sevens for the first time after failing to make the cut previously, as well as his club-mates William Mwanjii, Lamech Ambesta and Brian Tanga, Kevin Wekesa, the last two being Shujaa regulars last season.
Just like Kabras, KCB, Mwamba RFC, Strathmore Leos and Kenya Harlequin have five players each while Menengai Oilers have four. Daystar Falcons have three while Nakuru, Nondescripts and Homeboyz have one each.
Oilers’ Dennis Abukuse, who has been in scintillating form this season, will dd the much-needed quality to the side while Samuel Asati, Daniel Taabu, Billy Odhiambo and Herman Humwa are some of the experienced stars who will bring the knowhow.
Shujaa are in Pool B at the Africa Sevens alongside Zambia, Namiba and Nigeria while Pool A features South Africa, Madagascar, Tunisia and Ivory Coast. Pool C comprise Uganda, hosts Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso and Algeria.
Kenya effortlessly qualified for the last two Olympics but things are set to get a little tough this time around, given South Africa are also in the qualifiers after failing to finish in the top four at last season’s World Series.
While it has previously been much easier to qualify for the Olympics via this route with the likes of Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Madagascar, Tunisia, Burkina Faso and Namibia to contend with, South Africa present a big threat.
The winner of the qualifiers will seal their ticket to the Paris 2024 Games and if Kenya fail to win the tournament, they will hope to finish second or third to qualify for the 2024 Final Olympic Qualification Tournament while also making it to the 2024 Challenger Series.
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