Shujaa coach Kevin Wambua reveals ambitious ultimate target after charges safely land in Australia for Perth 7s adventure

Kenya Sevens head coach Kevin ‘Bling’ Wambua has outlined his ambitions for Shujaa as the team prepares to compete in the Perth 7s, the third leg of the 2024/2025 HSBC SVNS Series. 

The tournament, set to take place in Australia, marks a crucial stage in Shujaa’s campaign as they seek to improve their standing in the global series.

The Kenyan team touched down in Perth on Sunday, giving them a week to acclimatise before the competition begins on Friday, January 24, and runs through Sunday, January 26.

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Mokoro is the fourth Kenyan to have dumped Kenya Cup rugby to pursue greener pastures in Romania, and all it took was one game for Quins against Mwamba in late 2023 for the opportunity to pop up.

Wambua assured fans that the team has taken measures to address the challenges of jet lag and time differences, emphasising the importance of arriving in peak condition.

“With the help of our physio, we’ve made the necessary preparations to manage jet lag,” Wambua said during the team’s squad announcement at the RFUEA Grounds.

Currently ranked ninth in the overall standings, Shujaa aims to advance beyond the group stages for the second time this season. The team has secured three points in Dubai and eight points in Cape Town, and Wambua is optimistic that they can build on these performances in Perth.

Shujaa faces a formidable challenge in Pool C, where they are grouped with series leaders Fiji, perennial contenders New Zealand, and Uruguay. The Kenyan team will open their campaign against New Zealand at 6:00 am on January 24, followed by a clash with Fiji at 10:59 am. Their final pool match against Uruguay is scheduled for Saturday, January 25, at 7:00 am.

It was a year of several highs for Kenya 7s, such as sealing back qualification to the HSBC Sevens World Series, but also a few lows.

Acknowledging the difficulty of the group, Wambua stressed the need for resilience and focus.

“If you look at the series, there are no easy pools, and so the approach we will use is to treat every game as a final,” he said.

Wambua is determined to secure a top-eight finish this season, which would guarantee Shujaa a spot in the series finale in Los Angeles this May. He noted the importance of monitoring teams like Great Britain and Australia, who occupy sixth and seventh positions, as Kenya looks to close the gap.

The return of veterans, Tony Omondi, Vincent Onyala and Brian Tanga has also provided a significant boost to the squad.

Onyala, who had initially refused to commit to the contract offered to him on the table by KRU for the upcoming season, has made a comeback to the squad, alongside Tony Omondi.

“It is good to have Onyala back in the squad. Tony and Tanga are also with us, giving us more control and experience, which will be vital for our goal of finishing in the top eight,” Wambua added.

Co-captain George ‘Japolo’ Ooro echoed his coach’s sentiments, expressing confidence in the team’s ability to perform against elite opposition.

“Being against the best is like being the best, so for us as a team, we are ready to run into the big boys and see whatever we can bring,” Ooro said. “Attack is an opportunity; defense is a must.”