Shujaa stars return for Hong Kong, Singapore duty

Shujaa’s seasoned stars were named in the squad for Hong Kong and Singapore Sevens duties, marking their return to the national team from self-imposed exile.

Jeffrey Oluoch, who has been given the captain’s armband, will lead the senior players for their upcoming tour in April with former skipper Andrew Amonde also named in the team.

Kenya’s top try scorer Collins Injera, Willy Ambaka, Samuel Oliech and Brian Tanga have not agreed to come back to the squad despite negotiations with the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU).

Oluoch, the Menengai cream Homeboyz utility forward, has not played in the HSBC World Rugby Circuit this season and takes the captaincy role from Jacob Ojee who is concentrating on his studies.

He will be deputized by Kenya Commercial Bank RFC winger Vincent Onyala who has played all the last six legs of the series.

Other senior players who have returned in the squad include; Amonde, Kabras Sugar winger Dan Sikuta, Menengai cream Homeboyz fly half Augustine Lugonzo, Top Fry Nakuru winger Nelson Oyoo and Kenya Harlequin fly half Eden Agero who captained Shujaa in the first two legs of Dubai and Cape Town Sevens.

South Africa based Nondiescript center Oscar Dennis makes debut adding to Mean Machine skipper Shadon Munoko who made debut in the last outing of the Vancouver Sevens.

Paul ‘Pau’ Murunga also named regulars Mwamba’s Rfc winger Daniel Taabu, Homeboyz winger’s Bush Mwale, Mark Wandetto and fly half Mark Wandetto who have all played this season.

KRU vice chairman Thomas Opiya through the unions twitter account has asked Kenyans to support the team ahead of the difficult task in Hong Kong.

“We’d like to thank Bidco Group for being with us over the last 12 months. We ask all Kenyans to support the teams.”

The Shujaa squad will travel on March 31 for the Hong Kong 7s where they’ve been pooled in Group C alongside Cape Town and Hamilton Sevens champions Fiji, Dubai and Sydney Sevens champions New Zealand, and Australia.

Shujaa first match at Hong Kong 7s will be against Fiji at 4.37am on Friday April 5 with the second game set to be that evening against New Zealand at 9.51pm with the last match set to be against Australia at 1.33am on Sat April 6.

Shujaa lie 14th on the log with 18 points; four ahead of last-placed Japan with four rounds to go in Hong Kong, Singapore, London and Paris Sevens.

SHUJAA SQUAD FOR HONG KONG AND SINGAPORE SEVENS

Jeffrey Oluoch, Vincent Onyala, Andrew Amonde, Dan Sikuta, Augustine Lugonzo, Nelson Oyoo, Eden Agero, Oscar Dennis, Shadon Munoko, Daniel Taabu, Bush Mwale, Mark Wandetto, Mark Wandetto.