Simiyu in selection headache ahead of Tokyo Olympics

Kenericksonrugby writer

Kenya rugby sevens head coach Innocent ‘Namcos’ Simiyu says his major challenge is to select the final squad that will play in the Tokyo Olympics in July this year.

According to Simiyu, he’s used the Spain and Dubai invitational tournaments as a dress rehearsal for Tokyo and most of the players have so far impressed, leaving him with a selection nightmare.

Winger Eden Agero and Samuel Oliech are returness having featured in both legs of the invitational tourneys and are expected to jostle for the slots with the regulars.

“We’re progressing well as a team but my biggest challenge is to choose the team that will represent the country in Japan,” he explained. “Recently all the players have shown eagerness to fly our national flag high,” said Simiyu.

“At the moment the team is in the pre-season where in the first tournament in Madrid we were gauging ourselves after staying for a long time without playing rugby following the suspension of sports activity,” he added.

Simiyu’s men are expected to play two invitational tournaments in South Africa and the USA before heading to Japan for the Games.

“All the players are available for the selection to play for Shujaa in Japan and at the moment we’re back at the training camp in Kasarani after resting for 10 days,” added Innocent.

Shujaa are expected to train for two weeks before leaving for South Africa for the Rugby Africa Sevens Solidarity Camp in Stellenbosch.