Africa-Press – Kenya. Menengai Oilers centre John Okoth is a doubt for the Hamilton and Sydney tournaments of the World Seven Series slated for the new year. Okoth, who was called up to the squad last week, got a knee injury during their Kenya Cup match against Homeboyz, which they won 37-22 last weekend. He now faces a race against fitness for the twin tournaments down under.
Speaking on Thursday, Kenya Sevens team manager Eric Ogweno said the player will undergo tests on his knee before a final decision is done on his availability for the tournament.
“We will give him every chance to play but the window is very short depending on the severity of the injury. We will see and give him every available chance to train in a bid to rejoin the squad. The Hamilton Sevens tournament is slated for January 21-22 in New Zealand with the Sydney Sevens tournament set for a week later in Australia.
Okoth was called up to the squad alongside Kabras Brian Tanga and Canada-based Alvin Otieno as Damian Mcgrath looked at bolstering his options to kickstart Shujaa’s poor start to the 2022-2023 World Sevens season. Following three tournaments, Shujaa is placed 14th on the log with nine points and faces the fight for survival to be in the series for next year.
Ogweno said Otieno will arrive in the country on Saturday and they hope to have a meeting with him to discuss his availability for the remainder of the season. Otieno had left the Sevens programme in September to pursue a professional stint in North America.
“We are having a meeting with Alvin to find out his availability for the rest of the season and ask him his plans for the future in regards to Shujaa,” added Ogweno
Shujaa face an acid test in Hamilton, where they play Cape Town winners Samoa, Olympic and World champions Fiji and France. Ogweno said with the player welfare issues now behind them, he expects to see an improvement.
“Going to the new year, I think the boys are in good spirits following the sponsorship deal with SportPesa and now we can channel our energies on playing,” he noted.
For More News And Analysis About Kenya Follow Africa-Press
