Commonwealth Games: Ambaka opens up on reason for Shujaa's improved performance

Following back-to-back wins over Uganda and Jamaica, Kenya 7s are on the brink of a quarter-final place in the Commonwealth Games with Willy Ambaka crediting the turn of results to an exuberant squad.

Shujaa had posted torrid results that left them flirting with relegation in the HSBC World Sevens Series after losing their last seven games in the tournament before the Commonwealth Games.

Commonwealth Games: Shujaa within touching distance of quarters

Ambaka who made a return to the squad after previously missing out on the World Series noted that the squad has undergone rigorous training and the high spirits have translated to positive results.

“It's been a grueling seven weeks in camp so we are happy with the results and it was a good Day 1 for the boys. It's a happy camp and that is the most important thing.

You can do everything right but if the boys are not happy you struggle to get results because the mind is unsettled but we are loving every moment to represent a country of 40 million plus people,” Ambaka told journalists in the mixed zone after the game against Jamaica.

Shujaa will hope to seal a place in the quarter-final when they take on Australia at 12:50 pm on Saturday after opening wins over Jamaica and Uganda put them in pole position of Pool D.

The Narvskaya Zastava player added that he hopes Kenya can clinch their maiden rugby medal at the Commonwealth Games as he lauded head coach Damian McGrath and his management staff.

Commonwealth Games: Oyoo angling for medal with Kenya 7s

“We are trying to compete and not just participate, the boys are happy like I said earlier and we are taking it one game at a time, next we have Australia and after that, we will focus on the quarter-finals.

The coach and the management have been putting us under the pump. I just hope that we will give the good results that we can,” added Ambaka.