Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) Chairman Sasha Mutai has lauded the national sevens team, Shujaa, for their impressive performance at the recently concluded Olympic Games in Paris, France. Mutai’s praise came during a discussion on X (formerly Twitter) last evening, where he highlighted the team’s remarkable ninth-place finish despite formidable competition.
Exceeding Expectations
The Kevin Wambua-led team displayed resilience and determination, outshining many expectations. They faced tough opponents, including Argentina, who entered the tournament as the World Series champions and were at the peak of their performance. Shujaa also squared off against France, whose team included international stars like Antoine Dupont, who led them to the Gold medal, and Australia. Despite losing all their pool matches against Argentina, Australia, and Samoa, Shujaa made a strong comeback in the playoffs. They defeated Uruguay in the 9th place semi-final and avenged their earlier loss to Samoa in the final to secure their ninth-place standing.
Mutai emphasized the significance of this achievement, stating, “Our team performed exceptionally well. To finish 9th after winning two games against such elite competition is a testament to our team’s potential, especially considering this is a young squad that was only formed in August last year.”
A Promising Future
The success at the Olympics has instilled a sense of optimism about the future of Kenyan rugby. With the team now qualified for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, there is a strong foundation to build upon. However, Mutai stressed the necessity of more investment and strategic planning to prepare the team for the next Olympics in Los Angeles, USA, in 2028.
“The promising aspect is that many of these players, if they continue their current form, will likely be in the next Olympics, although we may see some retirements,” Mutai noted. “The challenge in Kenya is the lack of long-term planning; we can’t prepare for an Olympics a year in advance.”
Mutai advocated for a more comprehensive approach, stating, “We should be planning across three Olympic cycles—12 years—starting with identifying and developing young talent. This is something we’re focusing on at Kenya Rugby, getting kids as young as six or seven to start playing, so they can be gold medal contenders in future Olympics. One cycle of preparation isn’t enough when competing against the world’s best, who are investing heavily.”
Building for the Future
Beyond talent development, Mutai also highlighted the importance of securing proper training facilities for the national team. He mentioned the ongoing efforts to acquire the title deed for their allocated land at the Moi Sports Centre, Kasarani, with the aim of building world-class rugby facilities.
“We don’t even have a lease at RFUEA, which is known as the home of rugby in Kenya, but it doesn’t belong to KRU. We’ve had training deals with St. Andrew’s Turi, and in Nairobi, we’ve been training at Hillcrest, our partners. We couldn’t use RFUEA because the pitch is in poor condition—it’s unsuitable for high-performance training in a contact sport, and there are no proper facilities there,” Mutai explained.
He added, “It’s time we secure our land and title deed from the government so we can take ownership and develop it. We don’t need the government to build it for us; we can do it ourselves.”
As Shujaa enjoys a well-deserved break, the focus shifts to their preparations for their return to the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series for the 2024/2025 season. The team’s recent success serves as a springboard for greater achievements, and with the right support and investment, Shujaa is poised to reach new heights in the world of rugby.
