Kenya Lionesses captain Grace Okullu has offered insights into what has driven them to the promotion playoff where they have a chance to return to the World Series.
Kenya Lionesses captain Grace Okullu has credited a shift in mentality to their great run in this season’s Challenger Series, which has seen them qualify for the playoffs.
Lionesses have been playing in the second tier this season following their failure to secure World Sevens Series promotion in the previous campaign but they have now secured a place in the promotion-relegation playoff which provides them with an opportunity to return to the top flight.
Kenya sealed their place at the top of the Challenger Series on the opening day of the final round in Krakow, Poland on Saturday following a 12-0 win over Belgium in their Group A opener, followed by a 28-12 loss to Thailand before they defeated Colombia 12-7.
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Okullu says unlike before, their mentality has greatly improved this season and hopes it carries them through to the title and back to the World Sevens Series.
What is Lionesses skipper crediting for their success?
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“This time round, we have had a very strong winning mentality,” Okullu told Telecomasia.net regarding their run to the playoffs.
“We have played each game with a lot of belief in ourselves and that has been the biggest secret. In the previous tournaments, we have been losing by slim margins, maybe a few points or a try, but this time, we decided to work on the finer details and being a bit tighter and hence the improved results.
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Kenya Sevens had an impressive Singapore Sevens leg, where they reached the cup final, but that was not enough as they still stare at the prospect of World Sevens Series relegation.
“Our ambition remains to battle for promotion to the World series and I am confident that we will do it.”
The Lionesses will head to the playoff alongside South Africa, Argentina and either Colombia or Thailand and will be joined by the bottom four teams in the playoff in the final leg in Los Angeles from May 3-4 where the top four teams from the mini-tournament will be promoted to the World Sevens Series.