Wambua names Shujaa squad for Dubai Challenger event
Mwamba’s Brian Mutugi is set for his
second appearance in Shujaa colors after being named in the 12 man squad for
the opening round of the World Rugby HSBC Challenger 2024 set for 12-14 January
in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Mutugi, who debuted during the Safari
7s, is the only change from the side that secured victory and Paris 2024
Olympic qualification with a 17-12 cup final win over South Africa in the Rugby
Africa Men’s 7s last September in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Vincent Onyala and Anthony Omondi
co-captain the side who will play out of Pool C.
The team starts with a clash against
Mexico at 13:14 EAT on Friday, January 12, 2024 before taking on East African
rivals Uganda at 17:58 EAT. They will conclude their Pool C campaign against
Germany at 12:59 EAT on Saturday, January 13, 2024.
Commenting on the side’s
preparations, head coach Kevin Wambua showed optimism that they are ready for
the task ahead.
“Our training sessions leading up to
the Christmas break were highly productive, emphasizing skill enhancement and
the development of effective attack and defense strategies.
“Despite a setback in early December
when we were unable to participate in the Dubai event, we utilized internal
games to refine our performance based on the valuable insights gained from the
Safari 7s evaluation,” he noted.
Wambua continued, “The competitive
atmosphere within the squad has proven to be both robust and constructive,
pushing each team member to bring their best to the forefront and contributing
to an overall improvement in team dynamics.
“The recent three-day camp at Turi
was instrumental in further elevating our preparedness. The choice of Turi was
strategic, taking advantage of the high-altitude weather to better acclimate
ourselves for the upcoming tournament in Dubai.”
Wambua wants his charges to start the
Challenger Series on high note.
“As we approach the competition, our
focus is on taking each game as it comes, with the ultimate goal of securing a
podium position. Given that the Challenger series consists of four legs, a
strong start in the first leg is pivotal.
“This not only builds confidence within the team but also alleviates pressure for subsequent tournaments. Our target is clear – to establish ourselves early on and maintain a competitive edge throughout the series,” he concluded.
Vincent Onyala (KCB, Co-Captain), Tony Omondi (Mwamba, Co-Captain), Brian Tanga (Kabras Sugar), Kevin Wekesa (Kabras Sugar), John Okoth (Menengai Oilers), Samuel Asati (KCB), Nygel Amaitsa (Strathmore Leos), Festus Shiasi (KCB), William Mwanji (Kabras Sugar), George Ooro (Strathmore Leos), Patrick Odongo (Daystar Falcons), Brian Mutugi (Mwamba) MANAGEMENT: Kevin Wambua (Head Coach), Louis Kisia (Assistant Coach), Andrew Amonde (Assistant Coach), Lamech Francis Bogonko (Physio), Steve Sewe (Team Manager)
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