Kenya Sevens skipper, Andrew Amonde who is out on injury. [Photo/hangout.co.ke]
Kenya Sevens team manager Eric Ogweno has decried the absence of skipper Andrew Amonde, after he suffered a hernia injury at the Christie Sevens over the weekend.
The manager said Amonde’s loss would be a big blow in the short term but expects players selected to fill in the gap.
Amonde will miss the opening two legs of the World Sevens Series in Dubai and Cape Town.
He underwent an operation and will undergo rehabilitation for the next six to eight weeks. He is, however, expected to be ready for the third and fourth legs of the series in Sydney and Hamilton in January next year.
“He is our leader and he will be missed for the pre-season tournaments in South Africa and the first two events but we have depth and expect players selected to step in,” added Ogweno as quoted by the Star.
Ogweno said he expects a competitive Sevens side after last year’s disastrous campaign which saw Kenya finish 12th in the standings with 63 points—making it only to the Main Cup quarterfinals twice out of ten tournaments.
He welcomed the two upcoming pre-season tournaments—Assupol Sevens in South Africa and Safland Sevens in Namibia, saying the events are ideal to gauge the players’ preparations heading into a busy season where Commonwealth Games and Rugby Sevens World Cup in USA will be the main highlights.
Kenya faces South Africa, Canada, and Uganda in the opening leg in Dubai.