Oilers’ star Denis Abukuse dominates Dala 7s with hat-trick of awards

Denis Abukuse of the Menengai Oilers and Kenya 7s made a significant impact over the weekend, dominating the third round of the national sevens circuit, the 2024 Dala 7s, held at Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Mamboleo, Kisumu County, on August 17th and 18th.

Abukuse's exceptional performance earned him three awards: Top Try Scorer, Top Point Scorer, and Most Impactful Player of the Tournament.

From the outset, Abukuse was unstoppable, leading his team to a crucial quarterfinal victory with a brace that helped the Oilers edge out the Nondies 12-5.

He continued his outstanding form in the semifinals, scoring a hat-trick to secure a 29-14 win over MMUST RFC and book a spot in the final against Kabras RFC.

In the final, Abukuse remained pivotal for the Oilers, scoring their lone try as they fell 24-5 to their rivals in what was dubbed the 'Rai Derby.'

The former Bungoma High School star finished the tournament with an impressive 10 tries and 81 points.

Speaking to Citizen Digital in a post-match interview, Abukuse expressed his joy at regaining his form after being sidelined by an injury last year.

"I'm super excited to see myself improving daily; I want to get back to where I was before," he said.

"These awards mean a lot to me, but I couldn't have achieved this without my teammates. It's not about individual effort; it's a collective effort from my team. I'm proud of them."

The national sevens circuit moves to Nairobi this weekend for the Kabeberi 7s before taking a week's break.