Friday names strong sides

Friday, September 21, 2012 - 00:00 -- BY WILLIAM NJUGUNA
Horace Otieno beat Andrew Amonde Sevens team training at Kasarani-David Ndolo
Horace Otieno beat Andrew Amonde Sevens team training at Kasarani-David Ndolo.jpg

Strathmore RFC’s Cyprian Kuto and Davis Chenge of Western Bulls are the two new inclusions in the Kenya team named yesterday. Kuto had sterling season for Strathmore in the just concluded Sevens circuit while Chenge shone for Western Bulls and his performance impressed coach Mike Friday .

Friday has named two teams for the Safaricom Sevens tournament. In a departure from tradition, Friday said the two sides will be known as Shujaa and Morans. The tactician said there will be no first or second team as both sides are equally competitive. “There will be no first team or second because both teams are strong enough and I expect them to go all the way in this tournament,” he added.

The coach noted that the final squad of 12 players will be picked from the two teams to prepare for the IRB Gold Coast Sevens series tournament slated for next month. “We are looking at the 24 players and those who will impress in the two-day event will be selected for the IRB Seven Series” added Friday.

Both Kenya sides played friendly match against the highly fancied Samurai yesterday at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani Shujaa are drawn in Pool ‘A’ alongside Western Province, Samurai and Uganda Kobs. Shujaa will open their campaign against Samurai before facing Western Province.

They complete their preliminary round matches against Uganda Kobs. Kenya are drawn In Pool ‘B’ and have relatively easy ride to the quarters as they take on Uganda, Rwanda and Grenoble. Group ‘C’ will feature Spain, Bristol Barracudas, Hamilton Raiders and Chairman XI. Regular IRB Sevens series campaigners Portugal face South Africa Academy, Zambia and Universities XI.

SQUADS

Shujaa:Horace Otieno (Mwamba), Patrice Agunda (Quins), Davis Chenge (Western Bulls), Mike Wanjala (Strathmore), Phillip Wamae (KCB), Mike Agevi (Mwamba), Eden Agero (Quins), Felix Ayange (Quins), Biko Adema (Nondies), William Ambaka (Quins) Cyprian Kuto (Strathmore) and Collins Injera (Mwamba)

MORANS: Andrew Amonde (KCB), Oscar Ouma (Nakuru), Dan Sikuta (Mwamba), David Ambunya (University of Cape Town), Dennis Muhanji (Quins), Nato Simiyu (Quins), Chris Asego (Mwamba), Lavin Asego (Mwamba), Fabian Olando (KCB), Keven Keegan (Quins), Tony Onyango (Strathmore) and Dennis Ombachi (Mwamba).