Africa-Press – Kenya. Kenya Sevens will enter a four-day residential training camp at the MPESA Academy today as final preparations begin for the World Sevens Division Two tournament, set for February 14–15 at Nyayo Stadium.
The camp follows a recent high-performance programme held in Cape Town, South Africa, earlier this month and will focus on final tactical adjustments ahead of the two-day home tournament.
It will also culminate in the naming of the final 13-man squad. The coaching staff will use the camp to fine-tune game strategies, sharpen specific facets of play, and build team cohesion as the squad gears up for a demanding competition schedule.
Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) chief executive officer Thomas Odundo said the camp is a critical phase in the team’s preparation, especially with rival teams, having enjoyed competitive exposure globally.
“The camp is vital, considering other teams have played tournaments across the world,” Odundo said. “It allows us to fine-tune our preparation and ensure the players are in the best possible shape for the tournament.”
Odundo expressed confidence in both Shujaa and the Lionesses delivering strong performances on home soil and beyond. “We have given the teams the best possible preparation through camps and training. With the players and coaching staff we have, we believe we can perform well at home and carry that momentum into the subsequent legs in Uruguay and Brazil,” he noted.
Shujaa will face Canada, Belgium, and Germany on the opening day before taking on the USA and Uruguay on day two as they battle for a place in the semifinals.
The Lionesses also face a tough assignment, opening their campaign against Brazil, China, and continental rivals South Africa before completing the preliminary rounds against Argentina and Spain.
The women’s team concluded a training camp in Alicante, Spain, over the weekend and are expected back in the country later this week. Off the pitch, preparations are progressing well, with Odundo confirming strong ticket sales for the event.
“So far, 15,000 tickets have been sold for the two-day tournament, and the response from fans has been exceptional. We expect the tickets to sell out,” he said.
To ensure smooth operations, Odundo added that a standby generator will be in place at Nyayo Stadium to avoid any power disruptions. “We have requested Sports Kenya to provide a standby generator to ensure there is no blackout and that everything runs seamlessly over the two days,” he said.
Teams are expected to begin arriving from February 10, alongside representatives from World Rugby, as Kenya readies itself to host a major international rugby spectacle.
