Kenya Sevens head coach Kevin Wambua has unveiled his curated squad set to don the national colors at the Vancouver SVNS. In a near seamless transition from the Perth leg, Wambua has sanctioned only two alterations,ushering in the mercurial playmaker Jone Kubu and the prodigious 18-year-old sensation, Jackson Siketi.
Exuding palpable enthusiasm, Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) Chairman Sasha Mutai extolled the squad’s composition, particularly the inclusion of the two promising debutants. “I am absolutely elated about this squad, especially with the integration of these two exceptional talents. Jone Kubu, an established linchpin for Simbas, finally earns his Shujaa call-up, bringing his dynamic playmaking prowess to the sevens fold. Meanwhile, Jackson Siketi, who turns 18 in April, has already carved a name for himself despite his tender age. His ascension to the national stage augurs well for the future of Kenya Rugby,” Mutai stated.
Turning his attention to the impending challenge, Mutai underscored the gravity of the task ahead. “We find ourselves in a formidable pool featuring Argentina, France, and Great Britain, but our ambition remains resolute.We aim for a Main Cup quarter-final berth and to elevate our overall ranking. As always, we extend our deepest gratitude to SportPesa and M-Pesa for their unwavering sponsorship, ensuring that we continue to showcase Kenya’s rugby prowess on the global stage. To our ardent supporters, both at home and abroad, we urge you to rally behind Shujaa in Vancouver and spur them to victory.”
Coach Wambua, exuding confidence in his charges, lauded the squad’s relentless work ethic and fierce competition during the selection phase. “This group is brimming with energy. The past week in camp has been incredibly intense, with every player putting up a compelling case for selection. This competitiveness has significantly elevated our training standards, refining our game-specific blocks.
“We fell short of a quarter-final spot in Perth by a mere eight points. This time, we have meticulously fine-tuned our approach, emphasizing game management,especially in those crucial final three minutes. Our set-piece execution and both attacking and defensive frameworks have also been sharpened to ensure a more clinical performance.”
Providing insight into the squad’s adjustments, Wambua acknowledged the departure of Salem, who has embarked on an international rugby sojourn to further his career. “We extend our best wishes to Salem as he embarks on this new chapter. His exit has paved the way for Siketi, a young player with a remarkable skill set and a keen understanding of the game. His diligence has rightfully earned him this call-up.
“Kubu, on the other hand, is a phenomenal all-rounder, blessed with an extraordinary ‘X-factor’ that can dismantle defensive structures at will. His training performances have been exemplary, and I have no doubt that both debutants will inject an invaluable spark as we pursue our top-eight objective.”
The full squad will be as follows:
1. George Ooro
2. Samuel Asati
3. Kevin Wekesa
4. Vincent Onyala
5. Dennis Abukuse
6. William Mwanji
7. Antony Omondi
8. Brian Tanga
9. Nygel Amaitsa
10. Patrick Odongo
11. Floyd Wabwire
12. Jone Kubu *
13. Jackson Siketi *
