NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 20 – Experienced players Oscar Ouma and Sammy Oliech have made a return to the Kenya Sevens squad after almost a year and a half out as they were named in the squad for the Americas tour of the World Sevens Series.
Technical Director Paul Feeney says Oliech should have been part of the squad from the start but was pegged back by injury, and says he is pleased to have him available for next weekend’s Los Angeles 7s as well as the Vancouver 7s in Canada to follow.
Also returning to the squad is Jacob Ojee and Dan Sikuta, both who missed the Oceania tour of Hamilton and Sydney while Oscar Dennis also returns after recovering from a broken cheekbone.
Bush Mwale, youngster Geoffrey Okwach, Herman Humwa, Johnstone Olindi and Nelson Oyoo have been rested from the tour up north.
“We have a very long season ahead of us and of course the major target is the Olympics. We don’t want a situation whereby we have players who have played too many tournaments because there is the danger of injuries and fatigue,” Feeney stated after naming the team.
He added; “We have Ojee who has played only two tournaments while someone like Oyoo has played four, so it would have been unfair to have Oyoo go for six with Ojee still on two,”
“There is a lot of competition in the team and basically I just want to give everyone a chance. I have been here for a short period of time and I have only heard of the likes of Oscar and Oliech but haven’t seen them in a match. It will be a chance for me also to assess them,” the New Zealander further stated.
The team is expected to depart the country early next week for the Los Angeles 7s where they have been pooled with South Africa, Ireland and Canada.
Shujaa Squad for LA, Vancouver 7s.
Andrew Amonde (Captain), Oscar Ouma, Alvin Otieno, Dan Sikuta,Willy Aambaka, Collins Injera, Daniel Taabu, Sammy Oliech, Oscar Dennis, Billy Odhiambo, Jeff Onyala, Jeff Oluoch, Jacob Ojee