NAIROBI, Kenya, March 13- Former captain Sidney Ashioya has been restored to the starting line-up for the Hong Kong and Tokyo 7s as the national team squad was named this morning by Kenya Rugby Union.
Ashioya was a non-travelling reserve in the team that toured Wellington and Las Vegas 7s where Kenya reached the Main Cup final in New Zealand and crashed out of the same competition in USA in its last outing.
He has been elevated to the assistant captain’s role.
Eden Agero also comes in to the starting line-up with Dennis Ombachi slotted into the position occupied by the sacked Collins Injera.
Oscar Ayodi, Fabian Oyando and Davis Chenge drop to the non-travelling reserves that also contain Leon Adongo who has been drafted back to the national team reckoning in the team that will once again be captained by Andrew Amonde.
Kenya has been drawn in Pool B for the March 22 to 24 Hong Kong 7s with the country lying sixth on the IRB standings on 57 points.
Addressing a press briefing on Wednesday the Union chairman Mwangi Muthee said that the team named has the potential of bagging the top silverware during the sixth and seven legs of the HSBC World Series.
“I would like to retaliate that the team going to Hon Kong is a very strong team. It’s a team that is capable of winning the Main Cup and we are not going there just to participate we are going there to bring the cup home,” he stressed.
Muthee confirmed that axed wing speedster; Collins Injera was still part of the team but circumstances surrounding his sacking last month meant he could not be considered for Hong Kong and Tokyo.
“It’s very difficult for a coach to drop a player. But also on the pitch there is huge competition that comes from the players and when you see the technical bench select a team, that is the best the country can have at that moment,” Muthee added.
The chair announced the Union was in the process of employing a professional sports psychologist to help them cope with the pressure to perform.
He also revealed that a stake holder’s seminar this weekend that includes chairmen of clubs, the chairman of referee society, media, Government representatives and parents of the players would be convened this week to discuss the team’s status.
“We are all together and we must build a team, if we want to compete with the best of the world we must work as one team.”
– Report by Kang’ethe Njoroge
SQUAD
Andrew Amonde (KCB), Oscar Ouma (Menengai), Philip Wamae (KCB), Patrice Agunda (Quins), Horace Otieno (Mwamba), Michael Wanjala (Strathmore), Sydney Ashioya (Quins), Eden Agero (Quins), Biko Adema (Nondies), Willy Ambaka (Quins), Dennis Ombachi (Mwamba) and Billy Odhiambo (Strathmore).
RESERVES
Fabian Olando (KCB), Oscar Ayodi (Homeboyz), Leon Adongo (Impala), Davis Chenge (Western)
