Mwamba's Aldrine Adanje in action during the KCB Met Sevens held in Ruaraka/ HANDOUT
Mwamba RFC will field a youthful developmental squad in the 2026 National Sevens Circuit, with head coach Paul Murunga opting to use the campaign to nurture emerging talent ahead of the new Kenya Cup season.
Speaking ahead of the circuit, which kicks off later this month with the Prinsloo Sevens in Nakuru, Murunga said the club’s focus will be on giving young players valuable exposure rather than piling pressure on them.
“We have a young team for the sevens season, except Brian Mutugi, who has been called up to the provisional Shujaa squad. The majority of the players will be competing at this level for the first time, and I will not put them under pressure,” said Murunga.
The former Kenya Sevens international said the club is committed to building for the future after earning promotion back to the Kenya Cup for the 2026/27 season.
Mwamba have already had a taste of competition after featuring in last weekend’s KCB Met Sevens, where they reached the semi-finals before losing 34-0 to hosts KCB.
They continue their preparations this weekend at the Ruff and Tuff Sevens, where they have been drawn in Pool B alongside Nakuru RFC, Impala RFC and Daystar Falcons.
“It’s a tough pool because we are facing experienced teams, but in sevens anything can happen. Since this is a pre-season tournament, it will give us a good indication of where we are as a team,” Murunga said.
The tactician believes his youthful squad’s fearlessness and energy could prove to be a major asset throughout the circuit. “The beauty of young players is that they have no fear. They are willing to push themselves, they have plenty of energy, and they are eager to learn. I believe that is an advantage that will work in our favour,” he added.
Murunga, who has previously coached Quins and Homeboyz, said his side’s immediate target is to consistently reach the Main Cup quarter-finals at every leg of the circuit. “We will take one match at a time. The mood in the camp is very good, and the boys are relishing the challenge,” he said.
Mwamba finished ninth overall in last season’s National Sevens Circuit standings with 45 points, their best performance coming at the Dala Sevens where they placed sixth to collect 12 points. That marked a significant improvement from the 2024 campaign, when they finished 13th with just 21 points.
Murunga, who joined the club in September last year, admitted rebuilding has not been easy following the departure of several senior players and the club’s relegation from the Kenya Cup.
“It’s been two tough seasons, but I believe the adjustments we are making and the young players we are bringing through will help us become competitive again,” he said.
