Kenya Sevens head coach Kevin Wambua has welcomed the growing competition for places in the national team, admitting that the depth of talent displayed by Shujaa and the Kenya Morans at the Safari 7s has made the task of selecting his final squad for the HSBC SVNS 2 a difficult one.Download our Mozzart Sport App for more newsShujaa retained their Safari 7s title after defeating the Morans 19-5 in an all-Kenyan final at Nyayo National Stadium, with both sides showcasing the quality available to the technical bench ahead of the new international season.##NAJAVA_MECA_10027794##The performances have given Wambua several options to consider as he prepares to trim the squad, with established players and emerging talents making strong cases for inclusion.“It is a very, very good headache to have. If you look at the two sides, they are both quality teams capable of competing in any international tournament,” Wambua said.KRU official highlights areas to polish ahead of next year’s Safari SevensThe coach acknowledged that the team had limited time to work together but was encouraged by the players' commitment to learning the playbook, reviewing video footage and absorbing tactical instructions ahead of the tournament.“As I said before, we did not have much time to work together. However, the boys have done well in familiarising themselves with the playbook, reviewing video clips and absorbing as much information as possible in such a short period. I think that has been wonderful,” he added.The competition for places has been heightened by the impressive performances of several players who seized their opportunities during the three-day tournament, particularly those pushing for a breakthrough in the senior national team.Talanta Stadium confirmed for first major international sporting eventKCB's Elvis Olukusi was among the standout performers, earning the tournament's Most Valuable Player(MVP) award after an influential display that underlined his growing potential. He was joined by clubmate Gabriel Ayimba, who also impressed as Shujaa navigated their way to the title.Menengai Oilers playmaker Glacious Nganya was another player who caught the eye, with his attacking instincts and ability to trouble opposition defences adding another dimension to the selection debate.The depth of talent was equally evident in the Morans, where captain Clinton Amukwachi of Daystar Falcons impressed with his physicality and powerful carries.Safari Sevens: Mozzart Sport's Team of the TournamentNineteen-year-old Kabras scrum-half Michael Lukusi also made a strong impression with his quick service and sharp distribution, while Mwamba fly-half Dennis Ndayala demonstrated his playmaking ability. Kabras forward Matthias Osimbo was influential on both sides of the ball, combining powerful carries with effective defensive work.Arnold Agonda was another of the emerging players who enhanced his prospects, while Patrick Sabatia and Kenya Harlequins' Brighton Omondi also delivered impressive performances during the tournament.Andrew Amonde names his all-time Kenya Sevens dream teamFor Wambua, the challenge is not simply identifying the best individual players but also finding the right combinations, starting lineup and bench balance to give Kenya the best chance of succeeding on the international stage.“The performances have given us several options when it comes to our starting lineup, player combinations and the bench. It is a good position for a coach to be in, having an array of quality players to choose from,” he said.Shujaa's successful title defence came despite the absence of experienced campaigners Vincent Onyala and Kevin Wekesa, further complicating the coach's decision-making as he weighs the available options ahead of the final squad announcement.With several players pushing for recognition, Wambua said the technical bench would use the coming weeks to assess the squad before settling on the group that will represent Kenya in the HSBC SVNS 2.“We all know that after the Safari 7s, we will trim the squad, and you can see just how much the boys want to earn those contracts,” he said.Shujaa’s second-half masterclass overwhelms Morans as they retain Safari Sevens titleWambua believes the new faces bring qualities that could strengthen Shujaa as they prepare for the challenges of the new season.“The new faces in the squad bring an X-factor, dynamism, physicality and energy, which will be valuable assets for the team heading into the new season. I believe we are in a good place when it comes to talent identification and the players coming through Kenya Rugby's various age-grade structures. That is encouraging for the future of the game,” he said.
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