Kenya Lionesses back home after Olympics qualifier

The national women’s rugby sevens team- Kenya Lionesses arrived back in the country Tuesday after finishing second in the Olympic qualifiers in Johannesburg, South Africa. Kenya lost to the hosts to miss their best chance of qualifying for the Rio Olympic games but still managed to display their pedigree.

“ We are the team which scored the highest points in the qualifiers, we are happy with our performance,” Mike Shamiah, the Kenya Women’s Head coach said following the team’s return.

Kenya hammered Botswana by 46 – 7 in their first match and crossed the half century mark against Senegal beating the west Africans by 52 – 0. Tunisia gave Kenya its first true test but the Lionesses showed their mettle edging the North Africans 19 – 7. Kenya made light work of Madagascar and Zimbabwe but their fairy tale was ended by South Africa in the final.

The Lady Blitzboks as they are fondly known proved too strong as they beat Kenya by 31 – 5.

“South Africa had a better build up than we did and they had friendlies, we did not, but am happy with where we reached,” Shamiah added.

The team will now look to qualify for the Olympics via the world repechage that will feature Argentina, Russia, Ireland, Spain, Venezuela as well as the Oceania representative. This tournament is set for June 2016 at a yet to be confirmed venue.