Fresh from qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Kenya Sevens are slated to play at the Dubai Invitational tournament from December 1-3.
Assistant head coach, Louis Kisia, said they have received the invite and will be using the tournament to sharpen their skills ahead of the Challenger Series slated for February next year.
"It's an opportunity to play some of the top Sevens teams as we look at getting solid preparation for the Challenger Series in the new year,” added Kisia.
He said despite the heroic win over South Africa in Harare earlier this month in the Africa Cup Sevens, the team must focus on areas of improvement if they are to return to the top table of Sevens rugby in the world.
"We are currently operating at 80- 90 percent in terms of the line-out, scrums, ball retention, attack, and defense. We need to go up to 100 percent if we are to get promoted back to the World Seven Series” observed Kisia
Before the Dubai Invitational tournament, Shujaa will play at the Safari Sevens from November 17-19 at the RFUEA alongside Morans. Kisia said the team is relishing the challenge of playing in front of the fans.
"We are looking forward to playing in front of our fans and our preparations for the tournament have already started. it will be a boost to go to Dubai with a tournament win under our belt," he noted.
Kisia, who is also Strathmore Leos's head coach, said competition for places will intensify in the run-up to the upcoming tournaments.
“It's healthy when players bring their competitive spirit to training and as a coaching group, it gives us a headache on who to select for the upcoming tournaments,” added Kisia.
The tacticians said the spirit in the team has been lifted after the side got relegated from the World Seven Series in May.
"The mood in the team is high and the boys are in good spirits. The bonding we had in Nakuru has helped and we will continue having our training camps in the days and months to come,” said Kisia.
Shujaa stunned South Africa 17-12 in the final to seal the sole automatic ticket for the Olympics, leaving the Blitzbokke and bronze medalists Uganda to qualify through the repechage next year in June.
