Kenya Sevens center Chrissant Ojwang has revealed why he was not in action at the 28th edition of the Safari 7s from Friday, 9 to Sunday, 11 October at the Nyayo Stadium.Ojwang explained that an ankle injury sustained during training ruled him out of the tournament, where Shujaa went on to retain their title without one of their most recognisable players.Download our Mozzart Sport App for more newsShujaa successfully defended their crown, beating Kenya Morans 19-5 in an all-Kenyan final to cap off a dominant campaign.“I injured my ankle during a training session,” Ojwang explained.##NAJAVA_MECA_10052244##Although he could not contribute on the pitch, the Nakuru RFC ace found satisfaction in watching his teammates deliver, particularly as new players stepped up during the three-day tournament.“It was a good feeling watching the boys putting in the shift, new boys coming in, and it is a great thing. Sometimes it is good to just sit back and watch what other players can offer, and it is the best feeling. The boys are doing well,” he said.For a player accustomed to being in the thick of the action, watching from the sidelines offered a different perspective on the team and the opportunities that come with fresh faces joining the setup.Boost for Kenya Lionesses as key player returns ahead of Africa Women’s 7sOjwang's absence did little to derail Shujaa, who navigated the tournament unbeaten in the pool stages before brushing aside Wonder 7s 54-5 in the quarter-finals and French Renegades 36-0 in the semi-finals.Their victory over the Morans in the final secured back-to-back Safari 7s titles and showcased the depth available to the national team.The injury came after a demanding season for Ojwang and Shujaa, who had to navigate a new international competition structure following their return to the HSBC SVNS 2 series.Humphrey Kayange identifies current Kenya Sevens player possessing his qualitiesOjwang was in action in February when Nairobi hosted the inaugural HSBC SVNS 2 tournament at Nyayo National Stadium. Kenya finished third behind the USA and Germany, setting the tone for a campaign in which consistency would be crucial.The second leg in Montevideo, Uruguay, offered another opportunity to strengthen their position in the standings, with Kenya remaining third and firmly in contention for qualification.At the final SVNS 2 leg, Shujaa rose to the occasion, winning their opening two matches to become the third men's team to qualify for the season-ending HSBC SVNS World Championship Series.Lawi Buyachi on pressures of succeeding Gibson Weru at Menengai Oilers' after a decadeQualification secured them a place alongside the eight elite nations in a three-tournament series held in Hong Kong, Valladolid and Bordeaux, where the four teams promoted from SVNS 2 battled to retain their status among the world's top sides.After months of travelling and competing against the world's best, however, Shujaa's campaign ended in disappointment as they were relegated back to SVNS 2.