Olympic Squads Announced

Jul 18 • General News, International, Sevens Rugby • 2099 Views • Comments Off on Olympic Squads Announced

Kenya’s squads to the rugby sevens tournament at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games were released on Saturday 16 July at their residential training camp at the Nandi Bears Club in Nandi Hills.

Andrew Amonde will captain the men’s squad coached by Benjamin Ayimba with Catherine Abilla captaining the women’s team that is under the tutelage of Head Coach Mike Shamiah.

Simbas Tamed In Namibia

The Simbas three match winning streak was brought to a screeching halt, finding themselves on the opposite end of a 56-21 defeat to Namibia in Rugby Afrique 1A action in Windhoek on Saturday 16 July 2016.

In a dominant first half display, Namibia ran in six converted tries to take a 42-7 halftime lead and although Kenya provided stiffer opposition in the second half, the outcome was never in doubt.

Namibia’s forwards laid the platform for victory with a huge physical performance, while fly half Theuns Kotze gave a faultless kicking display on his 29th birthday, converting all eight tries for a personal tally of 16 points.

Man of the match Tinus du Plessis led the way with two tries, while captain Tjiuee Uanivi, Chrysander Botha, Rohan Kitshoff, Gino Wilson, Russell van Wyk and Johan Deysel scored one try each.
Kenya’s tries came through Isaac Adimo, James Kang’ethe and Dan Sikuta with Darwin Mukidza managing one conversion and Fabian Olando adding the other two.

The match had barely begun before Kenya lock Simon Muniafu was sin binned for infringing, and Namibia immediately took advantage as Glasgow Warriors bound captain Tjiuee Uanivi rounded off a forward maul for the opening try after only three minutes.

Full back Chrysander Botha went over three minutes later and with Namibia’s forwards battering away at Kenya’s defence, further tries by Rohan Kitshoff and right wing Gino Wilson saw them racing into a 28-0 lead after only 18 minutes.

Namibia kept up their relentless pressure and eighthman Tinus du Plessis crashed over for two more tries in quick succession to put the home side 42-0 ahead after only 28 minutes, to effectively end the contest.

Kenya finally opened their account on 32 minutes when fly half Isaac Adimo, danced through seven half hearted tackles to score, with wing Darwin Mukidza adding the conversion, to make the halftime score 42-7.

Right wing Russell van Wyk scored six minutes into the second half after a fine break by centre Johan Deysel, while Deysel himself dotted down after being put clear down the right wing to put Namibia 56-7 ahead after 58 minutes.

The game became a bit scrappy while numerous substitutions also slowed the tempo down, but Kenya finished stronger, scoring two tries in the final quarter.

Substitute forwards James Kang’ethe and Dan Sikuta scored both after Kenya battered away at Namibia’s defence, with Fabian Olando slotting home both conversions.