'He has built a monster' – Bitter-sweet moment for Shujaa as Singapore 7s final loss fuels relegation fears

Kenya's Shujaa. Photo Courtesy KRU.

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Kenya's Shujaa fell short in Singapore.

'He has built a monster' – Bitter-sweet moment for Shujaa as Singapore 7s final loss fuels relegation fears

Stephen Awino 19:41 - 06.04.2025

Kenya's Shujaa have shown promise in Singapore despite still facing a relegation battle.

Kenya’s national rugby sevens team, Shujaa, came agonizingly close to clinching their second-ever Singapore 7s title, but ultimately fell 21-12 to a clinical Fiji side in a gripping final on Sunday.

Despite the disappointment, Shujaa's spirited performance in Singapore has sparked optimism among fans and pundits, especially as the team continues to battle for survival in the HSBC SVNS series.

After missing out on a top-eight finish heading into the Grand Finale, Shujaa's campaign in Singapore has been viewed as a turning point.

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Remarkably, the Kenyan side did not concede a single point in the first half of any of their matches during the tournament, a testament to their growing defensive discipline under head coach Kevin Wambua.

“Yes. Lots of positives. #Shujaa finished the tournament without conceding a single point in the first half in all their Singapore games. Coaching staff are getting it right. A lot to build on. Over the last couple of years #Kenya7s have beaten almost all the big teams,” wrote one user on X, formerly Twitter.

Another fan praised the tactical and physical evolution of the team, writing, “Kevin Wambua has built a monster. Shujaa is so good defensively, just a little experience and we are good to win the #HSBCSVNS league next year. Go Go #Kenya7s.”

The turnaround in form is especially significant considering Shujaa’s recent struggles, including flirtation with relegation from the world series.

For many supporters, the journey from battling to stay in the top flight to reaching a cup final represents meaningful progress.

While the threat of relegation still looms, Kenya’s gritty performance in Singapore has reignited belief that a continued stay in the top tier of international rugby sevens is within reach and perhaps, even more titles in the future.