Kenya Sevens playmaker Johnstone Olindi has been included in the 36-man squad for Africa Under-20 Cup slated for next month on home soil.
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Kenya Sevens playmaker Johnstone Olindi has been included in the 36-man squad for Africa Under-20 Cup slated for next month on home soil.
Olindi has been in superb form for the Kenya Sevens side this season despite the shambolic performances by Shujaa in the circuit.
Kenya Under-20 coach Paul Odera said he has been assured by Shujaa coach Paul Murunga and director of rugby, Thomas Odundo that Olindi will be available for the championship scheduled for April 4-7 at the RFUEA ground.
The tournament clashes with the Hong Kong Sevens the same weekend but Odera said they are in agreement that Olindi skips the Hong Kong leg but be available for the Singapore leg which will be played the week later.
"Olindi is still very much in the age bracket and we know he will be a key asset for us at the event. We hope he can replicate his form at the Sevens tournament to the junior ranks,” added Odera.
Kenya will face Tunisia with Namibia playing Senegal with the winners advancing to the final. Odera said hopes are high that the team can qualify for the Junior World Rugby Trophy Championship.
“We have 10 survivors from last year's event in Namibia which gives us experience and we have trained well for the past one and half months. We have a couple of weeks to tweak our systems and strategies,” he said.
Odera said the game plan for his side will be to have a mobile pack which can play the game at pace and create opportunities to score and at the same time defend.
" I want the players to be mobile and play the game at pace and at the same time play intelligently and take their opportunities when needed so,” he added.
The foreign-based players in the team Jeff Mutuku and Andrew Simiyu who are based in South Africa, United Kingdom's Ashley Owain, George Kiryazi, Dominic Coulson and Rotuk Rahedi are expected to link up with the rest of the squad on March 30.
Squad: Ian Njenga, Brian Amaitsa (Nondies), Steve Biko, Bonface Ochieng, James Mcgreevy, Douglas Kahuri (Quins), Emmanuel Silungi, Johnstone Olindi, Kelvin Agwambo (Homeboyz), Samuel Asati, Stephen Osumba, George Maranga, Geoffrey Okwach (KCB), Martin Oyugi, Charles Wangwe (Mwamba), Ian Masheti, Frank Aduda (Impala), Jeff Kiragu, Kelvin Munene (USIU), Collins Obure, Sheldon Kahi (Blak Blad) Edward Mwaura, Ibrahim Ayoo, Beldad Oget (Oilers) and Wilfred Waswa (Nothern Suburbs.