Sevens Team arrive in Glasgow

The Kenya sevens-a-side team was due to arrive in Glasgow, Scotland for the Emirates Airline Glasgow Sevens.

Drawn in a tough pool A with Australia, England and the United States, Kenya is under pressure to perform above average after being put on notice by the International Rugby Board.

Although the technical bench has downplayed the absence of three key players, Kenya is in for a tough two legs at the new venue in Glasgow and next week in London.

While naming the team last Friday, coach Mitch Ocholla said: "Our main aim is to keep it plain, simple and tidy." Ocholla further added, " Our objective is to better the performances in Las Vegas where we won the USA Sevens Plate title after bowing out at the Main Cup quarter final stage. We will go into these tournaments aiming to play to our strengths."

Capturing the 2011/2012 season in summary, Ocholla said, "It has been a long, sea-saw campaign, obviously filled with its highs and lows. There have been very many valuable lessons learnt. We have been able to dig deeper into our talent pool, featuring a high number of squad players in comparison to previous seasons."

Sidney Ashioya has returned as captain and Lavin Asego also rejoins the team. There is no room for Oscar Ouma, Humphrey Kayange and Collins Injera, who are all held back by academic commitments. Joseph Oriwo makes his debut.

Ashioya said the team was prepared: " This team is well prepared, ready to perform well. There is no room for excuses.

The new call ups have blended in well with the rest of the team and are equally ready for action.”

After the London leg, some of the players will proceed to Rome for the annual Roma Sevens.

Kenya Squad to Glasgow and London Sidney Ashioya (Captain), Lavin Asego (Vice Captain), Leon Ojiambo, Victor Oduor, Biko Adema, Joseph Oriwo, William Ambaka, Michael Matayo, Patrice Agunda, Horace Owiti, Felix Ayange, Michael Agevi. Kenya Squad to Roma Sevens: Biko Adema, Joseph Oriwo, William Ambaka, Michael Matayo, Patrice Agunda, Horace Owiti, Felix Ayange, Michael Agevi, Oscar Ayodi, Kevin Keegan, Robert Aringo, Dan Sikuta, Billy Odhiambo, Dennis Ombachi

Grasgow Sevens draw and order of play Pool A: Australia, England, United States, Kenya. Pool B: Samoa, New Zealand, France, Spain. Pool C: Argentina, Fiji, Portugal, Zimbabwe. Pool D: Wales, South Africa, Scotland, Russia. Samoa v France, New Zealand v Spain, Argentina v Portugal, Fiji v Zimbabwe, Wales v Scotland, South Africa v Russia, Australia v USA, England v Kenya, Samoa v Spain, New Zealand v France, Argentina v Zimbabwe, Fiji v Portugal, South Africa v Scotland, Wales v Russia, Australia v Kenya, England v USA, France v Spain, Portugal v Zimbabwe, Samoa v New Zealand, Scotland v Russia, USA v Kenya, Argentina v Fiji, Wales v South Africa, Australia v England. 

 Eric Odanga

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 Additional reporting by KRU