Paris Olympics 2024: Amonde targets Olympics medal with Shujaa

Kenya Sevens strength and conditioning coach Andrew Amonde feels the national team is better equipped to secure a podium finish at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Shujaa arrived in Miramas, France on Tuesday for a ten-day training camp to prepare for the tournament that officially kicks off on July 26. Sevens rugby will start two days before the Olympics opening ceremony and end on July 30.

Kenya, who are in group B, face an acid test against World Series champions and Olympic bronze medallists Argentina on July 24 before locking horns with Australia. The former Singapore Sevens champions will then wrap up their preliminary round fixtures with a tie against Samoa on July 25. 

Having been part of the Kevin Wambua-led technical bench that turned around the team’s fortunes and guided it back to the World Rugby Sevens Series in June, the former Shujaa captain has tipped the current crop of players to achieve what his generation failed to do at the games.

The former KCB flanker featured for Kenya at the 2016 Rio Olympics before hanging up his boots after the Tokyo showpiece. On both occasions, Shujaa were eliminated at the group stages.

“Based on the work we are doing, there is a lot that we expect from these boys, they have prepared well and we have been fully supported by our sponsors, NOC-K, KRU and Tusker. I think all the motivation has been given to these boys and the big thing for them is now to prepare well, focus on their final preparations here in Miramas and go back to the Olympics and do the business,” said Amonde upon the team’s arrival in Miramas on Tuesday.

Reflecting on the team’s journey after their relegation from World Rugby Sevens series in 2023, Amonde said: “I think, it has not been easy, these boys have just been putting effort after effort. This is the only time they will go out and reward themselves for all the efforts they have done; the journey they have gone through and all the sacrifices they have made including being away from their families.

“I think this is the time they just need to bring their heads together and put everything they have been doing all this time together just to get something out of this season. I think it will be a big thing for them and they are very capable of finishing on the podium. They have already assured us of good performance and I believe they can go out there and get the successes. For us, the few days we are going to be with them here is to ensure we correct everything that we need and put them in the right mindset to help them go out there and perform." 

Nakuru RFC’s scrum half Chrisant Ojwang, who will be making his debut at the games, said they are fully aware of the task lying ahead of them.

"The pressure to perform is definitely there so is the excitement is but now it's time to focus on the task ahead," said Ojwang.