Shujaa have their sights on a podium finish for the Paris Olympics slated for July-August in France.
Team manager Steve Sewe said following their qualification as core series, they will not be in Paris just to make up for the number but as serious contenders.
Rugby is set to start before the Olympic Games' opening ceremony. The pool phase and quarter-finals are scheduled for July 24 and 25.
The semi-finals, classification matches and medal events are scheduled for July 27.
Sewe said: “In our past two appearances in the Rio 2016 Olympics and 2020 Tokyo Olympics, we are yet to go past the preliminaries. However, the team we have assembled this time round can shock some of the top teams in the competition and win a medal,” said Sewe.
Sewe said their target is to improve their conditioning and mental fortitude. “The Olympics are a different ball game and I am glad we have the next two to three weeks to improve on our conditioning and to be in peak condition and right mental fortitude."
Co-captain Vincent Onyala is the sole survivor from the team that played in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics three years ago and his leadership will be vital to the young squad.
"The team is young and we will be looking up to him to lead the squad and enable us to be competitive,” added Sewe.
The team manager said competition for places in the final 13-man team is expected to be stiff.
“There is healthy competition in the squad and everyone wants to play. However, I consider this a good problem for the coach as everyone has put their best foot forward and it will be a tall order picking the final squad,” noted Sewe
He expects new talent to be unearthed during the upcoming national Sevens Series, which kicks off with the Christie Sevens on July 27-28 at the RFUEA ground.
Shujaa have been at Kasarani Stadium for the past week, intensifying preparation for the Olympics as well as the Africa Cup Sevens tournaments to be held this weekend in Mauritius.
After the Olympics, the team will rest and start preparation for the World Seven Series starting in December in Dubai
