The HSBC World Sevens Series heads to its penultimate round, the London 7s, on 25th and 26th of May at the Twickenham Stadium and finally the Paris 7s tournament on the 1st and 2nd of June. Even as teams battle it out for the series title, it is important to note that the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Qualification is as stake since the top four teams in the 2019 HSBC Series will confirm their Olympics spot.
Shujaa is currently ranked 13th with 26 points and only one thing is expected of the team: to retain their core status in the World Sevens Series. They are one point above Wales(25points) and four above Japan (22 points). The three sides are currently in a relegation battle and by all means necessary, Shujaa needs to finish above the two sides in London and Paris.
Head Coach Paul Murunga has made three changes to the side that was in Hong Kong and Singapore; Cyprian Kuto, Brian Wandera and Charles Omondi all who missed out on a number of legs in the season due to injuries are back into the traveling delegation.
“I am happy to be back in the team, so that we can achieve our set targets in these last two legs of the series. I had a hip problem in Vancouver that has since been dealt from the rehab sessions with Lamech Bogonko and Michael Shamia. I am going to put my best foot forward,” said Cyprian Kuto.
“We have been working on our weak areas mostly during the last one month of training since the team came back from Hong Kong. We have also built up on our team plays since all the players have trained together, for longer and not as before when the senior players joined the set up a few sessions to the travel date,” added Captain Jacob Ojee.
Murunga has retained the rest of his regulars, Vincent Onyala, Andrew Amonde, Bush Mwale, Daniel Sikuta, Eden Agero, Daniel Taabu, Jefferey Oluoch, Nelson Oyoo and Johnstone Olindi. Captain Jacob Ojee who missed out on the Asian tour due to academic commitments will also be back in action at the London and Paris 7s. . Ojee will be deputized by Oluoch.
Shujaa will kick off their London 7s Pool B action at 12:36pm against Fiji, their second match pits them against Samoa at 3:20pm before they wrap up their day one action at 6:26pm against France.
Shujaa full squad: Vincent Onyala, Andrew Amonde, Bush Mwale, Daniel Sikuta, Charles Omondi, Eden Agero, Daniel Taabu, Jacob Ojee, Cyprian Kuto, Jefferey Oluoch,Nelson Oyoo, Johnstone Olindi, Brian Wandera
