Kenyan team off to US for Rugby Sevens World Cup

Source: Xinhua| 2018-07-15 22:38:35|Editor: huaxia
Video PlayerClose

NAIROBI, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Sevens team jetted out Sunday for the World Cup in San Francisco, the United States, in a bid to go past the semi-final stage.

Head coach Innocent Simiyu has opted to wrap his team on the steel of experience and called up four players from the team that competed at the 2014 World Cup in Moscow.

The four, Collins Injera, a member of the 2009 and 2013 semifinalist squads as well as Andrew Amonde, Willy Ambaka and Eden Agero who made the last tourney, will guide the team as it seeks its first Cup win this season.

"Our training has been good and it is always good to have headache in selection based on all players being available. Most of these players are young while some have been here before. They will learn from each other," said Simiyu, Sunday in Nairobi.

Simiyu, who made his World Cup debut as a player in 2005 and who was a member of the pioneering Kenya team in 2009, has come off a season in which the side has set some milestones, reaching two successive cup finals in Vancouver and Hong Kong.

Commenting on his squad selection ahead of the tournament in San Francisco, Simiyu believes it is the best side ever and capable of beating any team.

"We have a very strong squad based on training. The guys have really trained hard and we believe we have selected the best team that can represent the country. We're looking for good performances from the players and hopefully we can get some good results," said Simiyu.

Kenya will have no rehearsals as the organizers Rugby World have changed the tournament format, with Kenya among the teams that have to play in the knockout stage to qualify for the last eight.

Kenya will face Tonga and the winner will meet Scotland in the last eight. Enditem

KEY WORDS:
EXPLORE XINHUANET
010020070750000000000000011100001373262681