Shujaa co-captain George Ooro believes the Safari Sevens this weekend will be solid preparation for the upcoming Dubai Invitational tournament set for later next November.
“The tournament this weekend will be good for us to see where we are, in terms of several facets of play and at the same time build momentum for not only the invitational event but also the Division Two tournament next year,” said Ooro.
The KCB forward said the team will be tested accordingly in readiness for not only the Dubai event, but the upcoming World Sevens Series (WSS) Division Two leg slated for March next year.
Ooro was speaking during the event’s launch, where KCB Bank Kenya reaffirmed its commitment to supporting local sports by injecting Sh4.5 million into this year’s edition of the Safari Sevens tournament.
Out of the total sponsorship package, Sh2.5 million will go towards supporting the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) in broadcast production to ensure global visibility, while Sh2 million will facilitate customer engagements and on-ground activations during the three-day event.
KCB Bank Kenya Finance Director James Mugo underscored the bank’s continued dedication to nurturing talent and promoting sports development across the country.
“Sports remain a unifying force and a key avenue for nurturing talent. Through this sponsorship, we aim to contribute to the continued success of the Safari Sevens and the growth of rugby,” said Mr Mugo.
Shujaa, who are the defending champions, are in Pool ‘A’ alongside French Renegades, United Kingdom Select and Walukuba Rugby. The skipper admitted that they expect a stern test.
“ The teams we are facing are not the same as last year’s, and we can’t underestimate them. If anything, we have a target on our back by virtue of us being the defending champions, but we are relishing the battle,” he added. Ooro said competition for places in the Shujaa and Morans squads has been stiff since they went into training a fortnight ago at the RFUEA ground.
“We have new players coming to camp, and as the senior players, we have made them feel comfortable and welcome. We have a good crop of players coming through, and have adjusted to the demands of the national coaches, and we will see how they perform over the weekend,” added Ooro.
He said they are working on tactical strategies for the two-day tournament, with the focus mainly on kickoff reception, defence, and attack. “We have aligned a couple of our set plays, and we are confident around our strengths and hope to play good Sevens rugby this weekend,” added Ooro. John Okoth, captain of the Morans, said the young players have brought new energy into the side and will be keen to prove a point this weekend.
“They are full of energy and talent, and they are willing to learn from the senior players on the rigours of playing Sevens rugby at the highest level,” said Okoth.
