Asati confident Shujaa will defend Safari 7s title

Co-captain Samuel Asati is confident that Shujaa will successfully defend their Kenya Safari Sevens title when the tournament takes place from October 9 to 11 at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.

Both Shujaa and the Kenya Lionesses enter the competition as reigning champions in their respective categories.

Pointing to a talented squad and thorough preparation, the KCB playmaker and last year’s MVP believes the team is in prime shape.

“I’m quite sure Shujaa will defend the Safari Sevens title this year. With the current crop of players, I’m confident in them,” said Asati.

He added that the high-stakes competition serves as vital preparation for the upcoming World Rugby Sevens Series Circuit (HSBC).

“The Safari Sevens act as a pre-season tournament for the HSBC. The goal is to go back to Sevens One, starting with the Safari 7s then next year we play Sevens Two, and if we qualify for the championship, our goal is to finish in the top 8 to maintain our place in Sevens One.”

“The good thing is that the Olympic qualifiers are also next year so we have to build up quite well as we approach the Olympic year,” he added.

The former Cardinal Otunga High School prodigy highlighted fluidity as the main factor in in their quest to retaining the crown.

“Sevens is a game of restarts and transitions in both attack and defence. How quickly we transition from defence to attack will matter a lot in this Safari Sevens.”

Shujaa are currently in Mauritius competing in the Africa Men’s Sevens tournament, where a fresh wave of young talent has been given room to shine, some of whom may also feature for the Kenya Morans at the Safari Sevens.

That same drive for victory echoes in the Kenya Lionesses' camp, as scrum-half Judith Auma rallied support ahead of their title defence.

“We are well prepared and ready to play. We cannot afford to let go of the title we won last year. I’m urging the fans to turn up in large numbers to watch us play, we need their support and can’t let them down.”

The 28th edition of the Safari Sevens will feature 18 teams split into 12 men's and 6 women's sides.