Alvin ‘Buffalo’ Otieno is set to make a return to the men’s national rugby 7s team following his sudden exit in August 2022.
His last appearance was at the Los Angeles 7s during the 2022 season before he left the team for a career opportunity in Canada four months ago.
Otieno missed the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament held in Cape Town, South Africa, and was not been part of the team that started the 2023 campaign.
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Also making his return to the squad is Safari sevens 2016 Most Valuable Player (MVP) Brian Tanga.
“It’s good to have the experience of Alvin and Tanga back in the squad. Whilst both are a little short of sevens fitness, they bring a lot of experience and a little bit of an x-factor which is welcome,” Kenya Sevens head coach Damian McGrath commented.
He also divulged that Daystar Falcons' fast-rising star Floyd Wabwire and Menengai Oilers’ center John Okoth have made the cut for the first time.
McGrath acknowledged that Okoth is not fit for the sevens game but the skills that he possesses set him apart from others.
“John Okoth is well known to Kenya rugby followers through his exploits with the Simbas. He is a big, powerful, skillful player who will offset the loss of Vincent Onyala to a great degree.
“Johnnie’s not quite sevens fit but we know that he can come and do a job in short bursts and we know as the season goes on he’s going to get better,” he explained.
On the other hand, McGrath revealed that he settled for Floyd despite him not being picked by scouts.
“For Floyd, this is a chance to give him a taste of senior rugby, he’s trained so well. He’s come from nowhere on the National Sevens Circuit.
"He wasn’t picked out by the selectors but he was someone who caught my eye and he deserves this opportunity as he’s shone very well in training.
"He is a long way from the finished article but I think he is going to be a fixture in the sevens group for a while to come” stated the English international.
Kenya has been grouped in a tough pool alongside the likes of France, Fiji, and the hosts New Zealand.
The squad is expected to leave for New Zealand on Friday, January 13, at 11.55 pm ahead of the tournament which is slated for Saturday, January 21.
Shujaa squad for Hamilton 7s
Nelson Oyoo (Captain), Tony Omondi, Willy Ambaka, Herman Humwa, Alvin Otieno, Kevin Wekesa, Denis Abukuse, George Ooro, Edmund Anya, Ronnie Omondi, Brian Tanga, John Okoth (debut), Floyd Wabwire (debut).
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