Shujaa beat Germany 12-5 to win the 2021 Safari Sevens tournament at the Nyayo Stadium yesterday October 30th. With the triumph, came the team's hearty and comical celebration as they danced to being crowned Champs, all while being led by the hard hitting Alvin 'Buffa' Otieno.
All eyes were on Alvin ‘Buffa’ Otieno as the Safari Sevens returned after a year at Nyayo Stadium. The 2020 edition was cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak. Otieno was Shujaa’s ultimate showman after finishing as Kenya’s best player in the 2021 World Sevens Series with 11 tries scored in the shorter two legs series played in Canada last month. Always playing aggressively with big carries mixed with some fun and dances at the end of each try, the Homeboyz RFC winger was included in the Shujaa squad.
Shujaa which has regulars like Bush Mwale, Johnstone Olindi, Levy Amunga, Alvin Marube, Timothy Mmasi and Otieno and also captained by Herman Humwa. Mwale and Olindi returned to the squad after missing the 2021 World 7s Series. Collins Shikoli, Nondies’ Benson Salem, Strathmore Leos’ Brunson Madigu, Archadius Khwesa and Edmund Anya were also in the Shujaa squad.
Head Coach Simiyu had picked Clinton Odhiambo, Zeden Marrow, Derrick Mayar, Kevin Weksa, Charles Tendwa Obat Kuke to play for Morans. Others were Ronnie Omondi, Augustine Lugonzo, Richel Wangila, Austine Sikutwa and Hanningtone Wabwire.
The hosts dominated the opening exchanges and their efforts finally bore fruits when Johnstone Olindi put in a grubber kick and re-gathered it for Alvin 'Buffa' Otieno to touch down. Levi Amunga converted for a 7-0 lead. The visitors responded after a sustained period of pressure as Jack Hunt crossed the whitewash to reduce the lead to 7-5 at the interval.
Matters went from bad to worse for Shujaa as Collins Shikoli was sent to the sin-bin at the start of the second half.
The hosts never gave up with their six men piling pressure. Stand-in skipper Herman Humwa charged midway through the second half and was tackled off the line. From the resultant ruck, Olindi dived over the line to extend Kenya's lead to 12-5. Innocent Simiyu's charges had to pitch in a defensive shift to thwart the Germans who laid siege on the Kenyan try-line. It was sweet revenge for Shujaa who had lost to the Germans 14-12 in the pool stage on Saturday.
Simiyu was delighted with the victory. "I'm happy we have a couple of players who have shown hunger and grit in the last two days. This shows we have the talent and we can go places," said Simiyu. Simiyu said the side will have a week off before resuming training for the Dubai Sevens in three weeks time. "We have work to do and with the remaining short time, we can fine tune our preparations and be sharper in all facets of play," he added.
Shujaa beat Morans 19-17 in the semifinal while Germany thrashed Wailers 26-7 in the second semifinal. Morans had caused the biggest upset in the quarters with a nerve-racking 21-17 win over tournament's favourites Samurai while Shujaa edged out Uganda 19-12. The Red Wailers beat KCB 21-10 as Germany edged Zimbabwe 31-14. Shujaa were without skipper Nelson Oyoo and Jeff Oluoch who had minor injuries. Kenya Morans finished third after beating Red Wailers 12 -5. Charles Tendwa and Obat Kuke scored a try each with Xavier Bett responding for Wailers.