SportPesa Fast Forward 7s captain Roland van der Hever has set his sights on winning the 28th edition of Safari Sevens after his side made an impressive start to their campaign at the tournament.
The South African outfit has quickly established itself as one of the teams to watch, remaining unbeaten in the group stage and securing a place in the quarter-finals ahead of their meeting with Kenya Morans on Sunday.
Fast Forward began their Safari 7s campaign with an entertaining 21-21 draw against hosts Kenya Shujaa before recording a 24-17 victory over Uganda 7s in their second outing.
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They then capped off their group-stage performances with an emphatic 38-17 win over Scotland 7s, underlining their attacking threat and growing confidence as they prepare for the knockout stages.
Their opening encounter against Shujaa was particularly impressive, with the hosts forced to dig deep to avoid defeat against the South African visitors. The closely contested match offered an early indication of Fast Forward’s ability to compete with some of the tournament’s established sides.
Reflecting on their performances so far, captain van der Heever said the team had enjoyed its experience in Kenya and was pleased with the progress made since arriving for the tournament.
“I think the Safari 7s has been good to us. The guys have been enjoying the rugby in Kenya. We drew the first game and won the last two, and made it to the knockout stage, so we are quite excited about it,” he said.
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The skipper also credited the team’s improving chemistry and growing belief for their strong run, noting that the players were beginning to understand one another better and execute their game plan effectively.
“The boys have started believing, coming together, staying together and playing in our structure,” he added.
Despite their impressive start, van der Heever acknowledged that Kenya Shujaa had provided their toughest test so far, having already faced the Kenyan side in the group stage.
“So far, it’s Kenya Shujaa, whom we’ve already faced,” he said when asked about their toughest opponents at the tournament.
Fast Forward are making their debut at Safari 7s, but their performances have suggested that they have no intention of merely participating. With a quarter-final against Kenya Morans awaiting them, the South Africans are determined to turn their promising start into a serious challenge for the title.
Van der Heever was particularly clear about the team’s ambitions, insisting that lifting the trophy remains their ultimate objective regardless of the opposition they encounter in the remaining rounds.
“Our target is to win Safari 7s. No matter who we get in the semis, we must make it to the final and win it. Any team can come,” the captain declared.
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Having already shared the pitch with Shujaa, the South African skipper would also welcome another meeting with the hosts, preferably in the final, where the two sides could battle for the coveted title.
“We would love that in the final. That would be amazing,” he said.
Beyond the action on the pitch, van der Heever has also been impressed by the atmosphere created by Kenyan rugby supporters, particularly the passionate fans in the Shujaa corner, who have kept the stands lively throughout the competition.
“I like the vibe here. They are singing, dancing and everything, so it’s something I love from them,” he said.
The captain also expressed gratitude to SportPesa for sponsoring the team and making their participation in the tournament possible.
“I would like to say thank you to SportPesa for sponsoring us and helping the guys come to this amazing tournament. Thank you for everything,” he stated.
Fast Forward will now turn their attention to Sunday’s quarter-final against Kenya Morans, knowing that victory would take them a step closer to their dream of lifting the Safari 7s trophy on their debut appearance.