This archive report was first published on 7 December 2019.
On December 7, 2018, Kenya's national rugby sevens team, Shujaa, marked a significant milestone in their Dubai campaign, securing their first win in the HSBC Sevens World Series. The team triumphed over Scotland 26-14 in their fourth match of the tournament.
Shujaa's victory came after a disappointing start to the series, where they suffered group stage defeats to South Africa, England, and Spain. However, the team's performance improved significantly in their fourth match, with Daniel Sikuta and Vincent Onyala scoring two converted tries each at halftime, giving Kenya a 14-0 lead.
Scotland managed to score two tries in the second half, but Johnstone Olindi and Alvin Otieno added to Kenya's score, sealing the 26-14 win. This morale-boosting victory sets the stage for Shujaa's next match in Cape Town.
The team, coached by Paul Feeney, had a tough start to the series, losing all their group matches in the first leg. They were beaten by South Africa 17-12 in the first group 'D' match, followed by a 12-5 loss to England, and a 22-19 defeat to Spain. Collins Injera, the team's talisman, was absent due to a shoulder injury sustained during the International Safari Sevens in October.
Shujaa's performance in the Dubai leg serves as a crucial preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games, scheduled to take place between July 27 and August 1, 2020.
