Former captain Humphrey Kayange is the most notable inclusion in the Kenya Sevens squad to the fourth and fifth legs of the HSBC Sevens World Series in New Zealand and the USA.
Sidney Ashioya retains the captain’s armband of the squad that is intent on improving on its previous showings during the opening three legs of the circuit late last year.
Ocholla said, “Our focus heading into this stretch of the series is starting our campaign or a high, targeting a minimum of two wins during the pool matches which will put us in good stead for qualification to the main cup quarter finals. We shall move on from there one step at a time. The key thing for Kenya Sevens is to improve on the performances from the opening three legs. We have included Kayange whose departure to the United Kingdom for further studies has been held back slightly owing to a delay in processing his travel papers. ”
Addressing the media at the same press brief, Kenya Rugby Union Chairman Mwangi Muthee said,” We have revamped the squad travelling to New Zealand and the USA with the aim of improving on our performances during the last legs of the series. We have included a number of players who had been unavailable owing to work and academic commitments.
Speaking on Kayange’s inclusion, he added, “ Humphrey is a leader and mentor, his guidance to the younger players will greatly help the team. We have talked to Bristol University, where he is scheduled to be heading to, and have engaged his services for these two legs. We have also engaged David Ambunya from University of Cape Town for these two legs and we will continue to do so, if and when they earn call ups to the national squads.”
Other returnees to the squad, that has seven changes from the team that did duty during the opening rounds of the circuit are former IRB Sevens top try scorer Collins Injera and Lavin Asego, who missed out on the opening rounds due to academic and work commitments, Victor Oduor, Michael Wanjala, David Ambunya and Linus Simiyu, the Kenya fifteens flyhalf and younger sibling of Victor and Innocent who have featured for the Kenya Sevens squad in recent seasons..
Kenya's Collins Injera (Left) and Humphrey Kayange celebrate after they scored a try against Fiji during the quarter finals of the Rugby World Cup in 2009. The brothers are in Kenya's squad to the Wellington and Las Vegas legs of the 2011-2012 HSBC Sevens World Series.
The team departs on Saturday 28 January 2012 at 9.10am, returning to the country on Wednesday 15 February 2012 at 6.30 am.
The team
Sidney Ashioya (Kenya Harlequin FC, captain) , Lavin Asego (Mwamba RFC), Collins Injera (Mwamba RFC), Victor Oduor (Kenya Harlequin FC), Leon Adongo (Kenya Harlequin FC), Humphrey Kayange (Mwamba RFC), Patrice Agunda (Kenya Harlequin FC), Oscar Ouma (Nakuru RFC), Linus Simiyu (Impala RFC), Michael Wanjala (Strathmore Leos), Horace Otieno (Mwamba RFC), David Ambunya (UCT, South Africa)
Non travelling reserves: Biko Adema (Nondies RFC), Michael Agevi (Mwamba RFC), Kennedy Moseti (Homeboyz RFC)
Management : Mitch Ocholla (Head Coach), Charles Cardovillis (Assistant Coach), John Mbai (Team Manager), Felix Ochieng (Performance Analyst), George Odhiambo (Physiotherapist), Geoffrey Kimani (Conditioning Coach)
About Michael Kwambo
Good role model for the team to look upon.