Odera ropes in foreign-based quintet ahead of junior championship

Head coach of Kenya’s under-20 rugby team has said that the main reason behind naming six foreign-based players in his young squad ahead of the junior championship is to have a strong squad capable of posting impressive performances.

Paul Odera’s team is led by the foreign-based quintet of Mark Mutuku of Canterbury University (New Zealand), Michael Amolo (Leeds University, United Kingdom) and South Africa based trio of Toby Francombe (Western Province Academy), Andrew Simiyu (Hillcrest High School) and Jeff Mutuku (Kings Wood College).

In an interview with Citizen Digital, Odera was adamant his decision will bear fruits in this year’s junior world trophy, the 11th edition of the annual international rugby union competition for the juniors.

“I believe the foreign-based players are also part of our future generation and having them on board for the championship will add more depth, speed, strength, and confidence in my squad.

“The foreign-based are calm and more developed in the game since they began playing at an early stage and all have been with us in the past and they are players who we know very well. Some like Mark and Jeff Mutuku have been part of the team for the last two years,” he charged.

The tactician is also upbeat that the inclusion of the foreign-based quintet will add synergy in the different systems the team has been trying out.

“I want to improve on our defence, especially our tackling technique; we missed 34 tackles against Namibia and 37 tackles against Zimbabwe, which is not good for a team that has ambitions of participating in the junior championship,” Odera added.

Odera is also optimistic his local based players will blend well with the foreign legion and get to teach each other a few game plans that will be beneficial to the team.

“The likes of Harold Anduvate and Xavier Kipngetich, who is the best kicker in the team have been exceptional this season and they lead by example in the gym work.They are disciplined, focused and thirst for glory and that’s why I have had them from 2015,” he added.

The Kenya junior side, nicknamed Chipu, has been drawn against Zimbabwe, with the winner taking on either Namibia or Madagascar in the South Zone title decider.

“Last time out we lost to Namibia but this time, we want to go and do better. Our target is to qualify for the World Junior Trophy and we must work hard to achieve our main goal,” the coach added.

The winning finalist will battle the winner of the North Zone for the overall African title, and book a place to the 2018 Junior World Trophy at a yet-to-be-named venue.

Chipu, meanwhile, last played at the World Junior Trophy in 2009 hosted by Kenya and were runners-up to Namibia at the 2015, 2016 and 2017 editions of the Rugby Africa Under-20 Championships.