KCB playmaker Samuel Asati attempts to beat Quins' Amon Wamalwa during a recent Sevens tournament/HANDOUTKCB Rugby will rely on squad depth as they return to the Safari Sevens, set for October 10–12 at Nyayo Stadium, after earning qualification through a dominant National Sevens Series campaign.
The bankers target a strong outing, buoyed by their National Sevens Series title success.
Interim head coach Andrew Amonde is confident in the squad’s ability to compete, despite the absence of several key players.
“We will be without a good number of players — Vincent Onyala, Samuel Asati, Festus Shiasi, and Floyd Wabwire — but remember, we had 22 players in training during the circuit. The eight players selected for Safari Sevens can put in a strong performance and compete against the various international teams,” said Amonde.
Following their recapture of the national Sevens title, the bankers will take a two-week break and resume training on October 1, with Amonde keen to fine-tune specific areas despite a stellar run in the local contest.
“Our kickoff reception will have to be sharper. It’s one of the keys in Sevens. If you retain possession, you dictate play. So we’ll work on that in training,” he noted.
KCB had a near-perfect run in the National Sevens Series, winning four out of six legs — Driftwood, Christie, Kabeberi and Dala Sevens — while finishing runners-up at Embu and Prinsloo, losing to Strathmore Leos in both. They ended the series with 126 points, appearing in all six finals, underlining their consistency.
Their last appearance at the Safari Sevens was in 2023, where they lost 26-0 to the Morans in the fifth-place playoff.
“The last time we played, the boys put up a good show. We expect the same this time — to go out, enjoy themselves, and be competitive,” said the former Shujaa captain.
Amonde believes their Sevens series success provides a strong foundation for the 15s campaign, which starts in November. KCB last won the league title in 2021.
“We are on a good trajectory. Fifteens, of course, is different — you need structure and a solid set-piece — but I believe we have a strong team that can compete,” said Amonde.
