Following their triumph in the Challenger Series in Dubai, Kenya Sevens head coach Kevin Wambua has emphasized that the team will not become complacent.
Shujaa exhibited a determined performance, defeating Chile 12-5 in the Challenger final, with Patrick Odongo of Daystar Falcon scoring two crucial tries for Kenya.
Expressing his satisfaction, Wambua acknowledged the team’s resilience against tough competition. “I feel good; I think the boys had to dig deep for this one. We knew Chile would give us good competition, but I’m glad we were able to use our possession well, we were patient with the ball, and we were able to get the scores that got us over the line,” commented Wambua.
Highlighting the significance of strategic plays, Wambua credited the team’s success to their effective restarts. “I think the restart won us the game; we were able to retain two of our kick-offs, and that gave us possession. Being patient with the ball, we got our opportunity to score, so that’s an area that we focus our game around, and I’m just glad everything ticked off in the last game of the tournament,” he added.
Looking ahead, Wambua emphasized the need for continued hard work to ensure the team’s readiness for the next tournament in Montevideo, Uruguay, scheduled for March. Despite the recent victories, he stressed the importance of taking it “step at a time” and maintaining focus on future competitions.
Known as ‘Bling’ in rugby circles, Wambua has experienced a successful start to his tenure as Shujaa tactician, securing Olympic Games qualification for this summer’s event in Paris, France, after taking over from Darmian McGrath in August 2023.
