Strathmore Leos head coach Willis Ojal has revealed how his players rallied together in the wake of teammate Hamza Muhaise's tragic death to produce an inspiring run to the Kabeberi 7s final.Leos reached their first final of the 2026 National Sevens Circuit but narrowly lost 14-12 to KCB Rugby in a thrilling title decider played on Sunday, 16 August at the RFUEA Grounds.Download our Mozzart Sport App for more newsAlthough KCB celebrated a record-extending fifth Kabeberi 7s title, the occasion carried a much deeper meaning for Strathmore, who dedicated the entire tournament to Muhaise who passed away on Thursday, 13 August.Sources indicate that the Ugandan international, born on January 2, 2001, died on the morning of Thursday, sending shockwaves across the Kenyan rugby fraternity.##NAJAVA_MECA_9901535##Speaking after the final, Ojal said the team's gradual improvement throughout the National Sevens Circuit was a result of growing together as a unit, while the memory of Muhaise provided extra motivation."We have been ticking the boxes week by week. First week we played in the Bowl, second week in the Plate final, now we are in the main Cup final. It is just a matter of coming together as a unit because, as we say, rugby is a team sport, not an individual sport," Ojal said.He also noted that the competitiveness of this year's circuit has made every tournament unpredictable."Last year was also very competitive, just that you had to be at a certain level. This year as well, you can see KCB one weekend they win a trophy, the next one they are in the Plate. So, this one is a bag of mixed results for everyone, but all the teams here have done their homework,” he continued.Why NYS Spades coach was emotional after securing Division One promotionFor Ojal, however, results took a back seat over the weekend as the team sought to honour one of their own."This tournament was dedicated to Hamza and everything going forward is dedicated to him. All this work that the boys have shown is because of what Hamza was all about. He was all about teamwork, hard work, and enjoying what he was doing,” he averred.Amonde reveals what drove KCB’s turnaround from Dala disappointment to Kabeberi gloryThe coach added that the players constantly reminded themselves of Muhaise's passion for the game, which helped them navigate one of the most difficult moments in the club's history."It is all about the boys remembering what the purpose is, who their teammate was, and how he passed away doing what he loved.That is what kept them going and saying that everything is for Hamza,” he said.The final appearance was historic for Strathmore Leos, who became the first university side to progress beyond the quarterfinal stage of this year's National Sevens Circuit while also reaching their maiden final of the 2026 campaign.Muhaise joined Strathmore Leos in January 2024, making his debut against KCB Rugby in the Jerry Olola Cup at the KCB Sports Club. Wearing the iconic number 10 jersey, he established himself as the team's first-choice flyhalf while also showcasing his versatility across the backline.Before moving to Kenya, the Ugandan international featured for Black Pirates RFC and went on to play an instrumental role in Strathmore's rise.Grieving Leos go down fighting as KCB bag Kabeberi crown in emotional finalHis most recent success came on July 11, when he helped the Leos retain the Ruff n Tuff 7s title with a dramatic 15-14 victory over Nondies RFC at the Ngong Racecourse.Although he was not part of the squads for the Prinsloo 7s and Dala 7s, Muhaise remained close to the team, regularly supporting his teammates from the sidelines.
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