Paris Olympics 2024: Kenya Sevens face acid test against Argentina and Australia
Rugby
By
Washington Onyango
| Jul 23, 2024
Kenya Sevens will be hoping to make a positive start at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games on Wednesday as they face a challenging double-header against Argentina and Australia in the French capital.
This marks a significant moment for Shujaa as they aim to establish their presence on the global stage and contend for the Olympic title.
Shujaa clash with World Series champions and Olympic bronze medallists Argentina at 5pm (EAT) in what will be their first-ever Olympic meeting.
The matchup is set to be a tough one, as Argentina is currently enjoying a six-game winning streak against Kenya, dating back to the beginning of the 2020 series.
Kenya's last victory against Argentina was in Las Vegas during the 2019 series.
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In recent encounters, Argentina has effectively stifled Kenya's offense, limiting them to one try or less in each of their past four victories.
The last time Kenya managed to score more than seven points against Los Pumas Sevens was in Dubai during the 2022 series.
Later tonight (8pm) Shujaa will take on Australia. This will be their first meeting since Kenya ended a four-game winless run against Australia with a narrow five-point victory in Los Angeles in 2023.
Despite this victory, Kenya has not won consecutive matches against Australia since the 2011-12 series in Wellington.
The history between these two teams shows Australia has dominated outside the SVNS series, including three losses at the Commonwealth Games and no previous encounters at the Olympic Games or Rugby World Cup Sevens.
Australia has never conceded more than five points in a match against Kenya outside the SVNS series. Notable victories include a 27-5 win in Delhi in 2010, a 33-5 triumph in the Gold Coast in 2018, and a 7-5 win in Birmingham in 2022.
Recent encounters in the SVNS series have been tightly contested, with five of their past seven matches since Paris in 2019 being decided by a margin of seven points or less.
The only exception was Australia's 42-0 victory in Seville in 2022, where they led by 21 points at halftime.
And after turning around a sinking ship, captain Vincent Onyala is confident they can show the world that they are still the best when it comes to rugby.
Kenya Sevens faced a significant setback when they were relegated from the World Rugby Sevens Series in May last year.
This period saw a string of poor performances and a decline in form among key players like Alvin 'Buffa' Otieno, Billy Odhiambo, and Nelson Oyoo.
However, a change in leadership and a renewed focus on nurturing young talent has rejuvenated the team.
Under the tactical guidance of Kevin 'Bling' Wambua, Shujaa has not only reclaimed the African Sevens title but also secured a spot in the Paris Olympics and earned promotion back to the World Rugby Sevens Series.
Onyala has been a pivotal figure in this resurgence. With 10 new faces in the squad, the KCB man has instilled a sense of belief and hope despite being underdogs in their group.
Kenya will also face Samoa in the preliminary stages, and Onyala is confident in their ability to compete at the highest level.
"Kenyans should prepare to watch one of the most thrilling rugby in Paris this year. This young team is made up of energy, passion, determination, and hunger for success, values that have helped the team grow since last year," said Onyala.
The new faces in the Shujaa team include speedster Patrick Odongo, John Okoth, George Ooro, Samuel Asati, Nygel Amaitsa, Kevin Wekesa, Chrisant Ojwang, Brian Tanga, Anthony Omondi, and Lamech Ambetsa.
Only Onyala and Herman Humwa return to the Olympics after participating in the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Onyala emphasised that while the journey will be tough, the team should not be underestimated.
"It won’t be an easy show for Shujaa. We already know that but let the world not write us off. This team has grown their style of play and the talent we have is amazing. We know we will do well at the Olympics," he added.
The Paris Olympics presents an opportunity for Kenya Sevens to showcase their growth and ambition on the world stage, with hopes of turning their recent resurgence into Olympic success.