Kenya Sevens’ co-captain
Tony Omondi will join Shujaa for the Cape Town Sevens
leg this weekend.
Omondi will replace forward Chrisant Ojwang, who was injured in the classification match against Ireland last weekend in the Dubai Sevens.
Omondi left the country on Thursday morning and will only have limited time to train with his teammates ahead of kickoff on Saturday.
The Mwamba RFC player was in Dubai last weekend playing for the invitational side, Shogun RFC and he is physically in good shape, according to assistant coach Louis Kisia.
“He played last weekend in the invitational tournament and we have spoken to him. He brings leadership and experience into the side for this leg of the World Seven Series and I am confident he will be an asset for us,” said Kisia.
The coach said the team held two light training sessions in the Mother City and has warned that there will be no room for error in a competitive Pool ‘B’ that features Dubai Sevens losing finalists Spain and Australia.
“It’s a very different format from what we are used to. We know what’s at stake and we must strive to win both matches,” he added.
The winner of the group will advance to the semifinals while second-placed teams will enter the fifth to eighth playoffs. Teams that finish third will battle for the 9-12 positions.
Shujaa finished 10th overall in Dubai, bagging three points and with a shortened calendar featuring six more tournaments, Kisia said they need to amass as many points as possible.
“Our target is to be in the top eight by the time we go to Los Angeles in May. We need to qualify for the quarterfinals in every tournament,” observed Kisia.
Speaking separately, team manager Steve Sewe said Ojwang will be sidelined for three months after undergoing surgery on his ankle in Dubai.
The Nakuru forward will miss the tournaments in Perth, Australia in January, Vancouver in February and Hong Kong in March.
He is expected to be fit for the final two legs in Singapore and the Grand Finale in Los Angeles in May. Sewe said Ojwang is in high spirits and will start his rehabilitation next week.
“The injury was not as severe as first thought so he will recover in good time,” said Sewe.
