Kabras Sugar unchanged for season-ending Kabeberi Sevens as they eye first title in six years

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RUGBY Kabras Sugar unchanged for season-ending Kabeberi Sevens as they eye first title in six years

Joel Omotto 15:40 - 08.09.2023

The sugar millers will field the same line-up for a second successive leg as they seek to make their lead count by claiming National Sevens Circuit crown

Kabras Sugar coach Felix Ayange has maintained the same line-up that finished a disappointing sixth last week for the season-ending Kabeberi Sevens in Nairobi this weekend.

Kabras are looking to seal their first National Sevens Circuit title in six years but will have to do without the suspended flyhalf Jone Kubu who was left out of the 13-man squad given he could potentially only be available for one game.

Kubu was handed an 11-match suspension due to stumping at the Prinsloo Sevens and has already missed six. He could only be eligible to feature for the sugar millers again if they make the final at Kabeberi which is perhaps why Ayange opted for other options that will be relied upon from the start.

Kenya U20 trialist Warren Kamadi, who made his sevens debut at the Tisap Sevens in Eldoret last month, is among the youngsters who retained their place in the team as well as David Bunduki and Hillary Salano.

Others who are relatively new to the fold are Patrick Lumumba, Eric Cantona, and Duncan Abuyeka as Ayange tries to fill the void left by the experienced players who are absent such as Kubu, William Muhanji, Kevin Wekesa, Brian Tanga, and Lamech Ambetsa, the last four currently with the national sevens team.

Circuit leaders, Kabras Sugar have tournament hosts Mwamba, Masinde Muliro, and Daystar Falcons to contend with in Pool C and head into the final leg, only one point separating them from KCB. Kabras are on 92 points, KCB on 91 while Strathmore Leos have 82 in third place.

KCB can win the circuit title if they reach the cup semis and Kabras fall at the cup quarters while Strathmore have a chance to claim their first title since 2009 if they reach the cup final and Kabras and KCB fail to make the cup quarters.

All these scenarios are possible given the shocks witnessed in Eldoret where the likes of Nakuru, Homeboyz and Kenya Harlequin failed to make it past the group while KCB and Kabras were knocked out at the quarter-final stage with Nondies the unlikely cup winners.

Ayange and his charges will, therefore be seeking a return to winning ways after reaching three cup finals while claiming two, the Driftwood and Prinsloo.