Former Kenya Sevens skipper Humphrey Kayange is slated to play for the team in the USA and New Zealand legs of the IRB Sevens circuit next month.
Humphrey Kayange
Kayange will step up his training this month with the rest of the squad when he returns from Bristol University and will be watched keenly by Paul Treu and attack coach Vuyo Zangqa.
Treu has a lot of admiration for the former Sevens skipper and his return to the squad will be a boost as the team will be heading for the USA and New Zealand legs where Kenya has done fairly well in the recent past.
Kenya Sevens team manager, Steve Sewe expects full house in the new year and has hinted that selection will be equally be tough.
“Right now we have players who are sitting their examinations like Oscar Oumaand Patrice Agunda with Sidney Ashioya and Lavin Asego having work commitments. But by the new year, we expect a full team to choose from,” added Sewe.
He said three players have been called up for the South Africa Sevens in Port Elizabeth this weekend. They are Davis Chenge, Dan Sikuta and Billy Odhiambo.
The trio replace Patrice Agunda, who is sitting examinations this week and Phillip Wamae and Michael Wanjala, who sustained Injuries in Dubai. Chenge and Sikuta will bring bulk and power to the side while Odhiambo has the pace and size to trouble defences in the two-day tournament.
In Dubai, Andrew Amonde, Collins Injera and Horace Otieno shared the burden of guiding the younger players in the team and Sewe said the technical bench now knows what to improve on ahead of this weekend. “The players know what needs to be improved and the technical bench will be polishing those areas this weekend,” added Sewe
Treu expressed satisfaction with the ten points gained and said he expects a better performance in Port Elizabeth this weekend.
“We garnered ten points in Dubai the players now know what we expect from them and we need to minimise our mistakes and take our chances,” added Treu.
Kenya squad to Port Elizabeth: Andrew Amonde (captain), Collins Injera (vice captain), Dan Sikuta, Davis Chenge, Horace Otieno, Humphrey Mulama, Felix Ayange, Biko Adema, Eden Agero, Oscar Ayodi, Leonard Mugaisi, Billy Odhiambo; Management: Paul Treu (Head Coach), Felix Ochieng (assistant coach), Vuyo Zangqa (attack coach), Graham Bentz (strength & conditioning coach), Lameck Bogonko (physio), Steven Sewe (team manager).
By WILLIAM NJUGUNA, The Star
