Kenya’s rugby (fifteens) national team head coach Paul Odera names a 32-man Simbas squad for the Currie Cup between April and June in South Africa.
Dan Sikuta will captain the squad alongside Impala’s Elkeans Musonye and KCB’s Darwin Mukidza.
Rugby legend Collins Injera will replace Jacob Ojee on May 1 due to work commitments.
Menengai Oilers’ Brian Ndirangu will replace KCB’s Oliver Mangeni on April 21, 2022.
“South Africa rugby is built on massive physicality, so we are expecting a lot of hard work, especially on forwards,” said Odera.
Valke are a very strong physical side; we are going to become under immense pressure in the scrum. We also have to be very disciplined at the breakdown”
If you watched our matches in November, last year, the pace and accuracy of teams we were playing against made it very difficult for us to be successful in those game.”
“They (South Africa) will be availing to us their technical expertise across the board.
Whether it is coaching, sports side when they are not engaged in their programmes.”
Captain Dan Sikuta said players are excited and motivated ahead of the trip. “We just need to focus on building small bits before ticking the big box.
We need to build on our structures in the two-and-a-half months. Focus is one goal right now and hopes to come July we qualify for the World Cup.”
Five players are unavailable for the Currie Cup – Toby Francombe (school commitments), Malcolm Onsando (club commitments), Michael Wanjala (work commitments), Barry Robinson (school commitments) and Michael Kimwele (work commitments).
They will link up with the Simbas for the final phase of preparations ahead of the Rugby World Cup qualifiers set for July.
The squad:
Ian Njenga, Edward Mwaura, Andrew Siminyu, Coleman Were, Brian Waraba, Patrick Ouko, Ephraim Oduor, Joseph Orero, Brian Juma, Oliver Mangeni, Thomas Okeyo, Clinton Odhiambo, Joseph Shem, George Nyambua, Bethwel Anami, Brian Amaitsa, Dan Sikuta, Elkeans Musonye, Samuel Asati, Brian Tanya, Brian Wahinya, Jone Kubu, Matoka Matoka, Timothy Omela, Beldad Ogeta, John Okoth, Vincent Onyala, Peter Kilonzo, Derrick Ashiundu, Jacob Ojee, Darwin Mukidza, Geoffrey Ominde.