Triple injury blow for Shujaa ahead of new season

The national rugby sevens team Shujaa will be without three key figures when they kick off their 2017/2018 HSBC World Series in Dubai between December 1-3.

Captain Andrew Amonde, Mwamba RFC star Billy Odhiambo and Kenya Harlequins forward Frank Wanyama are among those ruled out with Injuries.

Amonde will be out of action for three months after picking up a hernia injury which worsened during the recently concluded Christie Sevens tournament where the skipper was in action for his local club KCB RFC.

“It’s a huge blow for us as a club and to the national team,” KCB Sevens coach Dennis “Ironman”Mwanja told Citizen Digital.

Billy Odhiambo, who was arguably the team’s best player last season, has also been ruled out of Dubai and Cape Town 7s with his return date set for early 2018.

Odhiambo, who came back to rumble for his club Mwamba halfway through the sevens season, picked up a shoulder injury at the Prinsloo Sevens in Nakuru.

Kenya Harlequins Sevens coach Victor Sudi confirmed that Wanyama will be out for the rest of the season, following the injury he sustained against Menengai Oilers at Sepetuka Sevens.

“We will have to do without him for the remainder of the series due to injury and we wish him a quick recovery,” Sudi said.

Nevertheless, the national team has been boosted with the comeback of superstar winger Collins Injera who featured for Mwamba RFC at the Christie Sevens for the first time in two years.

Injera, in an interview with Citizen Digital said he was pleased to be back to fitness having struggled with injury for and hopes his presence can motivate the national team to step up their performance.

“I think the most important aspect now is to improve more on our fitness level and conditioning in our training and I hope that will kick start this season with a bang at the Dubai,” Injera said.

The likes of Homeboyz duo Leonard Mugaisi, Cyprian Kuto and KCB star Darwin Mukidza are all set to fill the void left by the injured players.

-Report by Edwin Mbare