Shujaa open their Dubai Sevens campaign with a tricky tie against the USA at the Sevens Stadium this Friday in Dubai.
Fresh from winning the Safari Sevens last month where they beat Germany in the final 12-5, Innocent Simiyu's charges face a herculean task in the match against Mike Friday's USA which will kickoff at 9:16 am.
The Americans have brought in the big guns including speedster Perry Baker, Carlin Isles, Folau Niua, and Stephen Tomasin for the start of the World Seven Series.
The two sides have been evenly matched in the past two seasons with the USA winning 19-14 in Edmonton and 14-12 at the Tokyo Olympics in July. Shujaa had success over the Americans in the invitational tournaments winning 38-5 and 29-12 in Madrid Sevens in February this year.
Shujaa will then face Olympic bronze medallists Argentina (1:30 pm), who have been a bogey team for head coach Innocent Simiyu's charges. They lost all three clashes in the invitational tournaments 21-14, 21-7 in Madrid, and 36-19 in Dubai this year.
Shujaa will complete their preliminary assignments against Spain at 4:12 pm. Shujaa beat the Spaniards 26-12 in Edmonton in September.
The top two in each pool will qualify for the quarter-finals with the two best-placed third teams joining in the last eight.
Simiyu said the team has had four good days of excellent training in Dubai having arrived on Sunday and were relishing the task at hand.
“We arrived well and have had some good sessions as well, adjusting to the conditions. We can't wait for the tournament to get started," added Simiyu.
Kenya has had an inconsistent performance in Dubai in the past and Simiyu will be hoping for a good start to the 10-leg series which will culminate in London next year.
"We are playing a doubleheader this weekend and next weekend and we hope to amass as many points as possible,” added Simiyu.
Elsewhere, the Kenya Cup season gets underway on Saturday for the 2021-2022 season. Champions KCB face Homeboyz who make a turn after missing last season at the KCB Sports Club in Ruaraka.
Kabras Sugar will be at home to Kenyatta University’s Blak Blad at the Moi Showground, Kakamega with Masinde Muliro hosting Nondescripts at the MMUST Campus in Lurambi, Kakamega. Menengai Oilers welcome Mwamba to the Moi Showground, Nakuru.
This year’s league season will also incorporate women’s action. There will be three fixtures this weekend starting with the early kick-off between Mwamba and Topfry Nakuru at the RFUEA.
Ruckit and Impala will duel at the Impala Club with Homeboyz and Northern Suburbs facing off in Ruaraka.
