The national Sevens team is aiming to improve their consistency over the full 14 minutes of play after strong starts but faltering in the final moments of their Pool B matches at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Shujaa, featuring many young players making their Olympic debut, showed promise against world series champions Argentina, leading 7-5 at halftime before succumbing to a 31-12 defeat.
In their second Pool B match against Australia, Kenya was only a try behind (7-14) at halftime but couldn’t maintain their intensity, ultimately losing 21-7.
Co-captain Tony Omondi stood out against the Wallabies, scoring a try and securing 7 points for his team. In the opening match, Kevin Wekesa and Chrisant Ojwang each scored tries, with Omondi adding the conversion for one of them.
Coach Kevin Wambua, speaking to Capital Sport after the second match, emphasized the need to maintain consistent performance throughout the game. He highlighted the positives and expressed confidence in the young squad’s potential as they prepare for the HSBC Sevens World Series.
“We need to make sure that we play consistently for 14 minutes. We had this game, only a turnover cost us and 50/50 calls. We need to know how to finish off, but the boys are young and will get there with time. It’s just about encouraging them,” Coach Wambua said.
“Our defense has improved and can only get better. We are good at forcing errors and holding the ball for extended periods, so we will build on these positives and address our mistakes,” he added.