Kenya 7s all-time top try scorer Collins Injera is confident that Shujaa will continue to excel in the ongoing HSBC SVNS Series after their performances in the first two legs in the Dubai and Cape Town Sevens.
Following the opening two rounds, Shujaa are currently in ninth position with 11 points and are preparing for the Perth Sevens in Australia which will take place from January 24-26.
The team, under Kevin Wambua’s leadership, has been placed in a challenging Pool C alongside overall leaders Fiji, Uruguay and giants New Zealand.
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Injera, 38, mentioned that many were initially skeptical about the team after their relegation from the top tier.
However, upon their return, the Shujaa demonstrated solid performances as he noted that participating in the Challenger Series helped the team gain valuable experience.
“Many people did not give the national team much confidence to excel on the big stage after they were relegated from the circuit, but once they returned, we all saw how they performed—especially the match against France where they showed significant improvement,” Injera told NTV.
“I also believe that playing in the Challenger Series greatly benefited them, particularly for players who were less experienced at the HSBC level,” he added.
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Injera further stated that the national team has performed well in the first two rounds and is optimistic that if they maintain the same momentum, they will dominate the remainder of the series.
“In Dubai and South Africa, they played exceptionally well and I think if they continue with the same morale—because now they have proven themselves to the teams that once undermined them—they are capable of achieving great things.
If they maintain this trajectory and stay disciplined, they will begin to see the results,” he added.
As the iconic former Shujaa jersey number 11 continues to back the team, Wambua is expected to announce the final squad that will travel to Australia on Wednesday.
Their campaign will kick off against New Zealand at 6:00 AM East African Time (EAT) on January 24 at HBF Stadium.
In their second match, they will face pre-match favorites Fiji at 10:59 AM EAT, before wrapping up their group stage with a fixture against Uruguay at 7:00 AM EAT on January 25.
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