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The KCB captain has expressed frustration at the previous regime’s tendency to make impetuous changes to Shujaa regularly, which has tended to leave it lacking cohesion, making it a regular punching bag at the World Series.
Kenya sevens vice captain Vincent Onyala has revealed how the side can return to the world series at the first time of asking following relegation last season.
Shujaa's 19-year spell at the highest level was cut short in May after years of living on the edge, and now have their work cut out to qualify for the newly formated tournament next season.
The side recently restructured its sponsorship deal with SportPesa as they try to rebuild for the future, and Onyala has revealed how the side can get back into the top-flight of world sevens rugby.
“As players, we can only push for what the coach is championing us to do,” he said, “ at the end of the day, whoever showcases the best effort on the pitch will win regardless of the situation,” he added,
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18:00 - 04.07.2023
RUGBY: National 7s Circuit - Pools confirmed for Driftwood 7s
The draw for this weekend's division one Driftwood Sevens of the 2023 SportPesa National Sevens Circuit has been made
“Whoever much is given, much is expected.”
The KCB captain has expressed frustration at the previous regime’s tendency to make impetuous changes to the side regularly, something he says has tended to leave them lacking cohesion. As a result, Shujaa have become a regular punching bag at the world series.
Quizzed about whether the ongoing national sevens circuit will help tap new talent into the system to help the side improve, Onyala revealed his honest opinion on the matter.
“Truthfully speaking, it will not help. Building a player in the system for one year and then bringing somebody else to replace the same player you had already built for a year, you will be building in circles.
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11:54 - 03.07.2023
RUGBY Dala 7s recap: KCB extend long-standing Kisumu dominance as Madigu continues red hot form
A recap of the opening Dala 7s leg of the 2023 Sportpesa Sevens Circuit in Kisumu.
“You will be building, removing, building, removing. We need to have a set of players constantly in the team, say four or five years then at the end of the day, we see results.
“Players like Humphrey Kayange, Collins Injera and Andrew Amonde played with each other for seven years. For me, I have played for three seasons now. Coming to replace me after just three years would be bringing the team back to zero.”
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07:35 - 30.06.2023
RUGBY Onyala hopeful of Shujaa's 2024 Olympics qualification despite relegation from World Series
Shujaa were relegated from the 2022/23 World Sevens Series but the vice-captain is optimistic the side can bounce back.
The 26-year old is championing for the experienced heads in the side not to be brushed aside quickly in order to allow them to pass on their experience onto the younger players.
“We need to tap into the new talent, but get them to jel with the guys who are still there. Let us not keep building and rebuilding. We are where we are because of this. If you are keen enough, this issue started in 2018 and 2019. This is where this turbulence hit us.
“Unfortunately, we are not able to build our walls early enough, and it is biting us back now, but I believe with the new board and the new leadership in the KRU, I think the vision is clear on what we are supposed to do to get back.
The team's immediate focus is competing in the Africa Men's Sevens tournament in Zimbabwe in September which doubles up as the qualifier for the Olympics.
The winners will get an automatic ticket to the Paris Olympics, while the second and third placed teams will have to go through a final qualification tournament in June 2024.
Kenya won the Africa tournament in 2015 and 2019 to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio and Tokyo held in 2021.
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13:00 - 02.07.2023
RUGBY Strathmore Leos' Brunson Madigu on dominating 2022 sevens circuit, Shujaa debut, and Olympic qualification dream
Madigu dominated the national sevens circuit in 2022, making the team of the tournament which earned him a call up to the Shujaa squad for the Los Angeles and Canada Sevens.
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