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Anxiety in Kenya camp as weak Sevens team depart for World Series

Xinhua, November 28, 2016 Adjust font size:

Anxiety has gripped fans as officials dropped World Rugby Sevens Series top try scorer Collins Injera and Oscar Ouma over disciplinary measures ahead of the team's departure on Monday night for Dubai Sevens.

There will also be no space for experienced Oscar Ayodi, Bush Mwale and Sammy Oliech in the team as squabbles over players' allowances and a rift with the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) plays out.

Innocent Simiyu's squad faces a baptism of fire in their bid to dominate the campaign, which starts off this weekend in Dubai.

Kenya are pooled alongside Australia, France and Japan in Group D. They must win two matches to hold any chance of proceeding to the Cup quarter finals.

The coach disclosed most of the experienced players were axed owing to discipline issues after the team went on strike demanding unpaid allowances and bonuses from last season.

"Some of the players are not fit and they have to be left out. We will be recalling them as the season goes on," said Simiyu, Monday in Nairobi. "Some of the players are yet to make a mark this season in the National Sevens Series."

The Kenya Sevens team that was on go-slow since Tuesday last week, agreed to resume training on Monday after the government and Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) agreed to jointly pay them outstanding match bonuses amounting to 230,000 US dollars.

"A player like Oscar Ouma is good but we can't take him along. He is not match fit because he has just recovered from an illness while we have talked to Injera, who is key to our plan concerning our target and he is not yet there," said Simiyu.

The women's teams depart for Dubai also on Monday evening and will take part in the International Invitational Category where Kenya is in Pool B with Ireland, Belgium, Poland and Tribe 7s. Women's head coach Kevin Wambua said his side is ready for the challenge ahead.

"We have our players ready. I have made some changes which will see Grace Adhiambo and Linet Moraa coming in," said Wambua.

Kenya lost 21-17 to South Africa in the Africa Cup Sevens cup final in September.

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