Kenya — hitherto a virtual non-entity in the world of rugby — has been propelled on to the international stage following their recent impressive showing in the sevens World series.
Less than three years after launching an aggressive campaign, the national sevens team, known as Shujaa (Kiswahili for heroes), have caught the imagination by registering impressive victories over rugby superpowers including South Africa, New Zealand, England and Argentina.
They have shown their consistency on the sevens World series tour this season and were just one game away from winning their first-ever cup final.
“Awesome. Absolutely awesome,” remarked Jack “Saik” Sikenyi, a former rugby player, who was among thousands of fans who had thronged a popular Nairobi pub to cheer on the team during the London Sevens last week.
“The team keeps improving on their game in every tournament and we are rooting for them all the way. It is only a matter of time before we win the cup,” he said.
Kenya’s superlative showing — coming from a country where rugby is not a traditional sport — has won the admiration of their fanatical supporters both at home and abroad.
“Rugby is still regarded as elitist. But I think that this is the right time to ... sell Kenya through the sevens and reward the guys. They need to be superstars,” said James Kabuthi a fan.
The popularity of the sevens game in Kenya began in 1998 after the introduction of the Safari Sevens the year earlier. But with its growing success, it might have a negative impact on the fortunes of the 15-a-side game in Kenya.
Although the sevens skipper Humphrey Kayange and his brother and IRB World series leading scorer Collins Injera honed their careers in the 15s, the traditional version is struggling through lack of investment.
The 15-a-side national team failed to qualify for the 2011 World Cup but many observers believe it will be disastrous for Kenya to put more concentration only on the shorter game.
“Kenya has got its rightful place in the sevens but we need to go back to the drawing board and work on the 15s as well,” said Nairobi veteran sports commentator Joshua Shitikho.
“It is only in the 15s that we discovered Kayande who was playing as a center and now he’s a prop in the sevens. The two versions complement each other,” he said.
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