LONDON KENYANS

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KENYA LANDS A TOUGH DRAW FOR EMITARES AIRLINE LONDON SEVENS

April 24, 2007

It is a very tough draw. This was the comment of Tusker sponsored Kenya seven-a-side coach Benjamin Ayimba and his captain Innocent Simiyu after learning of the draw for the Emirates Airline London draw which was made on April 23, 2007.

The draw for this seventh tournament of the International Rugby Board Sevens World Series has Kenya in Pool C with New Zealand, Scotland and Italy. Top seeds and IRB Series leaders Fiji has been grouped with France, Argentina and Russia.

Africa’s other representatives South Africa also have a tough draw in Pool D where they have to navigate past hosts England, Wales and Portugal.

Ayimba noted that the key to a good performance is having a good blend of seasoned players. “It is important to have the strongest team for the remaining two legs. We can now plan accordingly with the draw in mind,” he said.

Simiyu put the draw in perspective. “Scotland has tremendously improved and Italy beat us in Hong Kong. We have not beaten New Zealand,” he recalled. But, Simiyu believes the new benchmark of reaching the semi-finals was not a pipe dream after the Adelaide experience where Kenya defied all odds to beat England.

The Kenya Harlequin utility back said the key to success in England and Edinburgh will be to minimize any mistakes against all teams. “If we play like we did against England then it is possible to reach the semi-final,” he offered.

The team was due to resume training on April 24 at the Sadili Oval. Ayimba will use the three training sessions this week to check on the availability of players. He predicted that players would be anxious to step their game and make it in the team. “Definitely no coach would like to drop any players who made the historic semis in Adelaide. It would also be suicidal to overlook some of the players who remained behind,” the coach stated.

There is an added twist because the coach would like to continue exposing younger players. It would be difficult to overlook Biko Adema and Horace Otieno who have learned the ropes fast. “Biko scored two tries in his debut and Horace is always a super substitute,” Ayimba admitted.

According to his programme, two players – Andrew Amonde and Philip Moturi – should be given a chance. The big question is who should be dropped?

The possible return of Lavin Asego, Gibson Weru and Sidney Ashioya complicates the selection especially with Nato Simiyu putting on a strong case. Peter Ocholla maybe unavailable after returning to the USA to his clubside Amoskeag Rugby Club where he has been joined by Mwamba forward Victor Oduor.

It is possible that assistant coach Felix Ochieng who was the team manager for the last two legs in Hong Kong and Adelaide maybe recalled. “We need leadership in the forwards if there are quality backs. I have some doubts with one or two players who must prove themselves in less than three weeks,” Ayimba intimated.

This follows the unavailability of Allan Onyango to a knee injury. The player has been unable to get a visa to the UK for the past three years. “We don’t know what the issue is,” Ayimba added.

If Benedict Nyambu is available, then the coach may only have to decide on who should be in the team from Humphrey Kayange, Ochieng, Brian Nyikuli, Otieno, Amonde, Sadat, Dennis Mwanja and Simiyu among others.

In the backs, more variety comes from Patrick Onyango, Collins Injera and Ted Omondi.

The coach is aware that Scotland and Italy are not going to be pushovers. “It depends on who will be available but I believe we need the strongest team for the remaining two legs,” he said.

The draw
Pool A: Fiji, France, Argentina, Russia; Pool B: Samoa, Australia, Canada, Georgia; Pool C: New Zealand, Scotland, Kenya, Italy; Pool D: South Africa, England, Wales, Portugal.

Order of play: Fiji v Argentina, France v Russia, Samoa v Canada, Australia v Georgia, New Zealand v Kenya, Scotland v Italy, South Africa v Wales, England v Portugal, Fiji v Russia, France v Argentina, Samoa v Georgia, Australia v Canada, New Zealand v Italy, Scotland v Kenya, South Africa v Portugal. England v Wales, Argentina v Russia, Canada v Georgia, Kenya v Italy, Wales v Portugal, Fiji v France, Samoa v Australia, New Zealand v Scotland, South Africa v England.

Released by KRFU Media and Communications krfu@iconnect.co.ke

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