Kenya Sevens arrive in Miramas for final Paris Olympics preparations

Kenya Sevens arrive in Miramas for final Paris Olympics preparations

Joel Omotto 18:05 - 09.07.2024

Shujaa have arrived in Team Kenya’s pre-Olympics camp in Miramas to begin their final training for the Paris Games with sevens rugby starting two days before opening ceremony.

Kenya Sevens are the first team to arrive in Team Kenya’s pre-Olympics camp in Miramas, France for their preparations.

Shujaa players touched down on Tuesday afternoon with focus now on their preparations for the Paris 2024 Games where they hope to make a great impression.

Coach Kevin Wambua named a largely unchanged squad with players who secured Olympics qualification before they went ahead to clinch a place back in the World Sevens Series given opportunities for the Games.

Seeking to benefit from the familiarity and harmony, Wambua has resisted the temptation to tinker with the team for the crucial Olympics assignment where they are in Pool B with Samoa, Australia and Argentina.

Co-captains Vincent Onyala and Tony Omondi will still lead the team with John Okoth, Kevin Wekesa, George Ooro, Samuel Asati, Nigel Amaitsa, Brian Tanga, Patrick Odongo, Lamech Ambetsa, Chrisant Ojwang and Herman Humwa joining themin the squad.

Festus Shiasi and Dennis Abukuse are the travelling reserves while Brian Mutugi is the training reserve. Mutugi will be with the squad for their training camp in Mirama but will return home when the team travels to the Olympics Village.

The squad had their final session in Kenya on Monday before leaving for France where they will be making a third straight Olympics appearance.

Shujaa have not gone past the group stages in the last two editions and there is optimism that they will record improved results this time around.

Sevens rugby will start two days ahead of the Olympics opening ceremony, with the men's category played on 24, 25 and 27 July, followed by the women's from 28-30 July.

Shujaa will begin with a match against Argentina on July 24 before taking on Australia and Samoa.