Shujaa coach Wambua demands tactical discipline as the World Series Two fast approaches

Kenya Sevens' Nigel Amaitsa  fends off a Uruguay opponent during a past tournament/HANDOUT 

With home pride on the line and promotion firmly in sight, Kenya Sevens head coach Kevin Wambua has put the spotlight on game management and tactical discipline as the defining factors for Shujaa’s campaign at the World Sevens Division Two tournament, which kicks off this weekend at Nyayo Stadium.

Describing the event as the biggest rugby sevens tournament ever staged on home soil, Wambua said Kenya must be clinical in decision-making and ruthless in execution to navigate what he expects to be a tightly contested two-day championship.

“Our decision-making and tactical acumen will be key this weekend,” Wambua said. “We need to seize the moment from the opening whistle, minimise errors and set the tone early if we are to make a strong start.”

The tactician revealed that the team has fine-tuned critical areas of play during an intensive high-performance camp in Cape Town, South Africa, followed by a final residential camp at the MPESA Academy in Thika last week.

“Kick-off reception, line-outs and scrums are vital, and retaining possession will be crucial,” he noted. “We want to play at a high tempo, be clinical when opportunities present themselves and remain disciplined in our defensive duties.”

Wambua added that build-up matches against South Africa’s Blitzbokke in Cape Town last month provided invaluable lessons for the squad.

“The sessions were competitive and eye-opening,” he said. “They helped broaden our understanding of structure and patterns of play, and the insights we gained have been crucial in our preparations.”

Shujaa will open their campaign against Canada, Belgium and Germany on Day One before facing Uruguay and the United States on the second day.

Wambua warned that the margins will be fine throughout the tournament. “All the teams have prepared well. There are no weak sides at this level, so we will take it one match at a time and see where we stand at the end of the weekend,” he said.

After the Nairobi leg, the series will pause for a month before action resumes in Uruguay on March 21–22, with the final leg scheduled for Brazil a week later.

The top four teams across the three-leg series in both the men’s and women’s categories will qualify to join the eight core Division One sides at the World Championship series.

Shujaa squad: George Ooro (cc), Samuel Asati (cc), John Okoth, Dennis Abukuse, Vincent Onyala, Kevin Wekesa, Patrick Odongo, Festus Shiasi, Nygel Amaitsa, Floyd Wabwire, Chrissant Ojang, David Nyangige.