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Nostalgia sets in as poor Kenya return to a venue with great memories.
Kenya Sevens head into the Singapore Sevens this weekend with relegation fears at the back of their minds following what has been a poor season.
With eight legs played so far, Shujaa have collected a paltry 30 points which leaves them in a precarious position 13 where they would rather not be since only the top 11 teams at the end of the 10th leg in Toulouse will be safe.
The 2022-23 season was more important for two reasons; the first being that the top four teams will qualify directly for the 2024 Olympics in Paris while from next season, only 12 sides will make the Sevens Series as World Rugby aligns the men’s game with the women’s series.
That means competition has been even intense this season at both ends of the table. While traditional powerhouses like New Zealand, Fiji, Australia, South Africa and by extension France and Argentina jostle for the Olympics tickets, Kenya, who not long ago would be contesting for such, are now fighting with the likes of Spain, Uruguay and Canada to avoid the drop.
Shujaa’s young team have struggled for consistency this season as a lack of leadership, combined with an injury to their playmaker Vincent Onyala, have conspired to see them flatter to deceive, leaving them facing a grim future which has far reaching consequences.
Three legs remain; Singapore, Toulouse and London but the last two are the cut-off legs where relegation will be decided with the 15th team after the penultimate round getting axed.
Those placed between 12th and 14th positions will enter a four-team relegation play-off together with the Challenger Series 2023 winners at the eleventh and final round of the Series in London.
Kenya head into Singapore in 13th position on 30 points, 10 behind Spain, who occupy the 11th and final place, while Uruguay (39 points) are also in a good position to escape relegation as Canada, in 14th on 22 points, have a slim chance like Shujaa.
Shujaa, therefore, need at least 55 points at the end of the 10th leg to be safe of relegation. This is a tall order as it will mean Damian McGrath’s side have to collect 25 points in Singapore and Toulouse where at least a fifth place, in both legs, must be achieved.
Based on current form, the picture looks bleak since Kenya have yet to reach such heights in 2022-23, the highest points tally they have managed being seven, on two occasions, in Hamilton and Vancouver.
Shujaa have hit an all-time low this campaign, collecting one point in three legs, including the last one in Hong Kong, leaving even the most optimistic with little hope that they will retain their core status.
Kenya are feeling the full impact of the departure of veterans such as Andrew Amonde and Collins Injera, who would stand tall and rally the troops to pull up their game on the pitch in tight situations like the one they face now and current skipper Nelson Oyoo has not proved inspirational.
Fans are now left praying for the best while fearing for the worst and it does not get even better in Singapore where Shujaa are in the same group with fourth-placed France, USA in ninth position, and Uruguay.
Even the most optimistic of fans know it will be a tall order for Kenya to overcome at least two of them just to make it to the Cup quarters, yet that is exactly what they need to get closer to safety. Over to you, McGrath.
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