A new team will add an international flavour to the historic 60th edition of the Christie Sevens slated for Saturday, 12, to Sunday, 13 September at the RFUEA Grounds.Club Afrique will make its competitive debut this weekend.Download our Mozzart Sport App for more newsThe newly-formed side has been drawn in Pool A alongside National 7s Circuit leaders KCB, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) Rugby, and hosts Kenya Harlequin, setting up a challenging introduction to the pitch.Mozzart Sport caught up with the team’s founder and owner, Stanley Amino, who explained that the Christie 7s represents more than simply Club Afrique’s first appearance.It is the beginning of a project designed to provide a platform for talented players who have yet to break into their main teams.##NAJAVA_MECA_9952670##Club Afrique’s inaugural squad is largely made up of Varsity Shield talent from South Africa, with players drawn from some of the country's leading universities, including the University of the Western Cape (UWC), University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) and Walter Sisulu University (WSU).Leading the side is Sipho Hobosch, who captains the team and represents Walter Sisulu University.The squad also features WITS University’s Christopher Kachungunu, who serves as vice-captain.Why 14 Kenyan players will miss out on inaugural Ultimate 7sThe club has further assembled a group of players who already have experience competing at the highest level of university Sevens rugby.Five members of the squad- Kachungunu (WITS), Leachim Adams (UWC), Lukhangele Tshayi (WSU), Simthembile Zozi (WSU) and Keno Alexander (UWC)- were part of the South African university side that recently competed at and won the FISU University World Championships 7s.Their presence gives the newly-formed Club Afrique side a strong core of players accustomed to high-level competition, while also underlining the club’s objective of creating opportunities for emerging talent.“This is a very special moment for us because the Christie Sevens will be our first-ever competition since Club Afrique was founded. To make our debut at the 60th edition of such a historic tournament makes it even more special for us,” Amino said.Andrew Amonde Christie 7s game plan without Ultimate Sevens starsClub Afrique has brought together talent from Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe and South Africa, with Amino identifying an important gap within Sevens rugby that the new club hopes to address.“In Sevens, you only have seven players on the pitch, so sometimes you can have very good players who do not make the final cut simply because of the numbers. We want to provide a platform where those players can continue playing, developing and showing what they can do,” he said.The club's concept is built around creating a bridge for players who possess the ability but have not yet secured regular places in their respective main teams.“That is the bridge we are trying to build with Club Afrique. We want to bridge the gap between talented players who have not yet broken into their main teams and the opportunities that can help them take the next step in their careers,” Amino added.The name and identity of the club also reflect its philosophy of bringing players together across borders.Prominently featured on the club's crest is the word ‘Sisonke’, which means ‘together’.How Mean Machine clinched surprise Division One promotionIt is a fitting representation of a team bringing together players from different countries, universities and rugby backgrounds under one banner.“Our logo carries the word ‘Sisonke’, which means ‘together’. That speaks to what Club Afrique represents. We are bringing players from different countries and different backgrounds together, united by one thing: the love and ambition for rugby,” Amino explained.For Club Afrique, the Christie Sevens will therefore serve as both a competitive test and the launch of its wider vision.“We believe there is a lot of talent across Africa that just needs an opportunity. Our role is to create that opportunity and give these players a platform to compete at a high level,” Amino said.The club is not placing all its emphasis on what happens on the scoreboard in Nairobi.Kenya sole East African representative in Africa Men’s 7s SeriesInstead, they view the tournament as the first step towards building a sustainable pathway for players seeking exposure and opportunities to progress.“We are not just looking at the results at Christie. We are looking at the bigger picture; giving players exposure, helping them develop and hopefully creating a pathway for them to reach the next level,” he said.Three LA28 Olympics qualification pathways available for Shujaa and LionessesWith the historic 60th Christie Sevens providing the backdrop, Club Afrique could hardly have chosen a more significant occasion for its first chapter.“Starting this journey at the 60th Christie Sevens is something we are proud of. It is the beginning of what we hope will become a meaningful platform for players who deserve a chance to be seen,” Amino concluded.After the Christie 7s, the team will compete in the Safari 7s slated for Friday, 9, to Sunday, 11 October at the Nyayo Stadium.
120