Simiyu singles out Uganda as major challenge ahead of Africa Cup Sevens

Kenya rugby sevens head coach Innocent ‘Namcos’ Simiyu has singled out fierce rivals Uganda as their major headache  as they prepare for this year’s Rugby Africa Cup Sevens which takes place on the weekend of 13/14 October in Tunisia .

“Of course Uganda will be the team to beat being the reigning Africa champions, Zimbabwe are playing fairly well as well as Zambia who played very well in the Commonwealth Games.

“Ours is to wait and see how the teams play but off course the team to beat will be between Uganda and Zimbabwe.”

Shujaa will start their pursuit to reclaim the Africa Men’s Sevens crown from neighbours Uganda when they face Botswana in the tourney’s opening match at 1.00 pm on October 14 in Tunisia before facing Morocco in their last Pool A encounter at 4.40 pm (EAT).

“We have played some of the teams in the Safari Sevens, so for us the key thing is how do we get our game going and hit our standards early so that we top our group and avoid a tough quarter final match.”

National Sevens Circuit Most Valuable Player Daniel Taabu and Top Try Scorer Mark Wandetto have made the 21 man Kenya squad that is preparing for the Africa Men’s Sevens in Tunisia.

“There is a lot of potential from the guys who played in the circuit but also it’s a personal journey they have to go through because most of the players who have come from the circuit still have a lot to do in terms of conditioning and skills,”said Simiyu.

Other first timers making the squad are Johnstone Olindi, Timothy Mmasi and Eliakim Kichoi.

“It’s about introducing  them to the squad so that they can start their journey and hopefully when they play well in CAR they can build on that.”

The 21 man squad will be trimmed to 12 before their departure to Tunisia on Thursday October 11, 2018.

POOLS

Pool A: Kenya,Morocco, Botswana

Pool B: Uganda, Senegal, Ghana

Pool C: Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Mauritius

Pool D: Madagascar, Namibia, Zambia

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uganda tunisia Innocent 'Namcos' Simiyu Kenya Rugby Sevens Rugby Africa Cup Sevens

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