The Kenya Lionesses are set to receive a significant boost with the arrival of Sevens team captain Grace Adhiambo ahead of their upcoming match against Kazakhstan in the WXV 3 tournament in Dubai this Saturday.
Adhiambo, along with Phoebe Akinyi, Judith Akumu, Terry Ayesa, and Sharon Auma, joined the squad on Tuesday, having recently led the Sevens side to a commendable second-place finish at the Africa Cup, which also served as an Olympic qualifier, held in Tunisia.
In Dubai, Kenya faced an opening match setback, losing 32-0 to Spain. Assistant coach Murunga expressed confidence that the inclusion of the five players would provide essential reinforcements for the crucial match against the Asian side on Saturday.
“It’s great to have them join the squad for this match. They will have two days to train and acclimatize to the conditions, and they will be available for selection ahead of the second match,” Murunga noted.
He emphasized the experience and big-game temperament that these players bring, highlighting their significance for the upcoming fixtures against Kazakhstan and Colombia.
“The four players bring a wealth of experience and will be crucial for our next two games, where we are aiming for nothing less than a victory,” added Murunga.
Reflecting on the defeat to Spain, Murunga acknowledged the challenges faced, particularly in the setpiece against a formidable opponent. “They really dominated us up front, and two of their tries came from the rolling maul. We have to learn how to defend against it going forward and, at the same time, enhance our discipline to minimize penalties,” he observed.
Furthermore, the former Kenya Sevens and under-20 coach stressed the importance of improving their offensive performance. “We had our opportunities that we failed to capitalize on. Therefore, during this week’s training, we are focusing on increasing our conversion rate when we enter the red zone,” Murunga stated.
Team captain Knight Otuoma shared his perspective, expressing determination to apply the lessons learned from the Spain defeat in their upcoming matches. “It was a challenging day for us, but we’ve learned valuable lessons and aim to perform better in the next two matches, striving for improvement in all aspects of our play,” Otuoma affirmed.
