Kenya Sevens: Shujaa Co-captain and Mwamba RFC’s Tony Omondi Urges Team to Carry On With Momentum

• Shujaa were crowned champions of the Dubai Leg of the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series
• Patrick Odongo stole the show with two vital tries for Kenya against Chile in the final
• Co-captain Tony Omondi has urged the team to keep its momentum going until the last tournament

Kenya Sevens claimed the title at the Dubai Leg of the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series on Sunday, January 14, 2024,

Shujaa successfully defended their one-possession lead, securing the championship title, triumphing over Chile 12-7.

The decisive performance came from the emerging talent Patrick Odongo, who showcased his skills by scoring two key tries, leading the team to victory.

Odongo left an immediate impact, breaking through the right wing to score a try within the first minute. Anthony Omondi's successful conversion kick gave Shujaa an early 7-0 lead.

5 of the most memorable comebacks in AFCON history

Football

Despite some handling errors allowing the South Americans to narrow the gap to 7-5 at halftime, Odongo's exceptional skills continued to be vital. In the second half, he scored another try, extending Kenya's lead to 12-7, although the conversion was missed.

The team’s co-captain Tony Omondi of Mwamba RFC, also instrumental in the match, expressed his elation on social media, urging the team to maintain their momentum.

"We are super happy. We knew this Challenger event in Dubai was very crucial for us to start on a high, and now we must carry on with the momentum until the last tournament,” Omondi said on his Twitter handle.

Kenya's dominance in the semifinals against Uruguay, ending with a 21-5 victory, was highlighted by Odongo's hat trick. Seizing the opportunity created by the South Americans' temporary numerical disadvantage, John Okoth set up Odongo for his third try.

This stellar performance secured Kenya's spot in the top four teams moving on to the next stage of the Challenger Series. Meanwhile, China emerged victorious in the women's category.

AFCON 2023: President Tinubu Approves Incentive for Super Eagles Campaign in Ivory Coast

Football

The Challenger Series, featuring legs in Dubai, UAE, Montevideo, Uruguay (March 8-10), and Munich, Germany (May 18-19, 2024), serves as a crucial pathway for teams to ascend to the pinnacle of global rugby sevens, as reported by the HSBC.

The top four teams will face off against the bottom four after the 2023/24 World Series.

Kenyan Rugby mourns Adul

On a sombre note, Sports Brief previously reported the passing of ex-Kenya rugby international George Obonyo Adul, who played a significant role in the 1990 Kenya Cup-winning Mean Machine squad.

He also contributed to Mombasa RFC's 1997 Enterprise Cup victory.

The sports community paid its respects to Adul's lasting impact on Kenyan rugby.