Kisumu RFC have set their sights on an immediate return to the Kenya Cup after showing signs of improvement during the recently concluded National 7s Circuit.The Lake Region side was relegated from the Kenya Cup last season, prompting changes to its technical bench as the club sought to rebuild and chart a path back to the top flight.Download our Mozzart Sport App for more newsIn May, Kisumu appointed Simon Wariuki as head coach, with Allan Kasiti taking up the role of assistant coach. The new technical team was tasked with securing a top-two finish in the KRU Championship to earn promotion, while also improving the club's competitiveness in the National 7s Circuit.##NAJAVA_MECA_9968870##The duo was further mandated to establish a scouting and mentorship structure to identify and nurture young talent across the Lake Region and Western Kenya.Their progress was evident during the 7s campaign, although their season was not without challenges.The side finished 13th overall with 23 points, an improvement from a difficult start to the season. At the Prinsloo 7s, they failed to register a win and finished last.Andy Cole Omollo details challenges of adapting to life in JapanPlaying at home proved to be a turning point as Kisumu claimed their first victory of the circuit against Daystar Falcons at the Dala 7s. Their performances continued to improve in subsequent legs, with the team coming agonisingly close to reaching the quarter-finals at the Embu 7s before missing out on points difference.Speaking to Mozzart Sport, Kasiti said that the campaign provided valuable lessons, particularly given the age and inexperience of the squad.“That was a good performance. The boys gave it their all, especially because the majority of them had just come straight from high school,” he said.George Nyambua provides injury update after knee surgeryThe Mukumu Boys coach had targeted at least two quarter-final appearances or a semi-final berth when he joined the technical bench, goals Kisumu ultimately fell short of achieving.“When I took over as the assistant coach, my target was to reach at least two quarter-finals or one semi-final, but unfortunately, we did not achieve those goals. However, I am happy that we gave our best throughout the circuit,” he averred.The team also finished the circuit strongly, with Kasiti pointing to improvements in key areas such as goal-kicking.“We came into the last leg with a serious approach. We worked on areas such as our conversions, and it was good to finish the circuit on a high,” he said.One of the biggest positives from Kisumu's campaign was the emergence of Harrison Mauve.The speedster finished as the circuit's leading try-scorer with 33 tries, earning a place in the provisional squad for the national team's Safari 7s campaign.Mean Machine feted during UoN’s 75th graduation ceremonyHis emergence underlined Kisumu's emphasis on developing young players and provided the club with further encouragement ahead of the Championship campaign.“Our biggest achievement in this year's circuit was having one of our boys from Kisumu make it to the national team. He also finished as the overall top try-scorer, which is a great achievement. The future is bright for him,” Kasiti said.With the 7s campaign now behind them, Kisumu's attention shifts to the KRU Championship, where promotion has become the club's overriding objective.“Now, our main goal is to get back to the Kenya Cup. That is the target. Everyone- the players and the entire technical bench, including the head coach and myself as the assistant is focused on achieving that,” he said.For a side that began the National 7s Circuit at the bottom of the standings, Kisumu's progress offers a platform to build on. Impala RFC winger Derrick Kinyari opens up on decision to relocate to USAThe challenge now is to translate that improvement into a promotion push and restore the club's place in Kenya's top-flight rugby.
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