Kenya Sevens have an ambitious target of finishing in the top eight as they make their return to the World Seven Series after a year in the cold.
Assistant coach Louis Kisia said the target was well within their sights for the upcoming season which starts with the Dubai leg in the next fortnight.
“The key this year is to ensure we don’t get into a relegation playoff come the end of the season. Our target is to be in the top eight by the season finale in Los Angeles in May next year,” he said.
Kisia said the players have signed their two-year contracts and solved the contractual standoff, which had threatened to derail Shujaa’s return to the circuit last month.
“The contract issues between the union and the players have been sorted. The players are back in training working hard to ensure they are part of the 13-man team travelling to Dubai and Cape Town,” he said.
Kisia believes the players will be in good shape and condition having played at the Safari Sevens while the rest of the teams will be starting from scratch.
“We have an advantage of having played a tournament. Most of our opponents have not had an opportunity to play and so I believe we will be in a strong position to be competitive,” Kisia said.
He made the remarks as the team received an enhanced sponsorship deal of Sh84.1 million from betting firm Sportpesa for the next two years.
The first year will see the team receive Sh33m and Sh49.5m in the second.
Sh1.6m will be used to organise next year’s national Sevens circuit.
The monies will cater for the players’ salaries, training camps, additional training personnel and other miscellaneous expenses.
The company gave Shujaa Sh22m for the 2023 Challenger Sevens campaign.
Speaking on Wednesday, Sportpesa CEO and Kasarani Member of Parliament, Ronald Karauri, commended the team for their performance in the Challenger Series that saw them earn promotion to the World Sevens Series.
“I wish the team the best as we embark on this journey. We are back where we belong and I am confident with this enhanced new deal and I hope the players will give their best performances,” Karauri said.
Shujaa co-captain Samuel Asati thanked the firm for standing with the team during their high and low points for the past two seasons.
“As the players, we are grateful to Sportpesa for standing with us during the Challenger Seven Series and we want to assure them that we will do our best for the upcoming season,” Asati said.
