Kenya Sevens force Kabras RFC to dip into transfer market for forwards
.jpg)
Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 06.01.25. | 19:08
Kabras will face a challenging situation this season as some of their key players will be unavailable due to their commitment to the Kenya Sevens
Reigning Kenya Cup champions Kabras Sugar RFC are reinforcing their squad during the December-January transfer window as they prepare to defend their title amidst disruptions caused by national team commitments.
Kabras will face a challenging situation this season as some of their key players will be unavailable due to their commitment to the Kenya Sevens ahead of the upcoming legs of the HSBC SVNS Series.
Shujaa will resume their campaign at the Perth Sevens in Australia from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 January, which coincides with the Kenya Cup dates. This overlap will cause a shortage of available players for the Sugarmen.
In light of that, the club has secured the services of former Mwamba RFC utility forward Mike Okello and Catholic Monks playmaker Samuel Omollo.
According to Kabras Chairman Edwin Esilaba, these additions aim to address gaps left by key players involved with Kenya Sevens.
“Okello’s inclusion is primarily to reinforce the forwards, as William Mwanji and Kevin Wekesa are engaged with Kenya 7s duties, while Brian Tanga is tied up with work commitments.
Sam is also brought in to reinforce the 10 and 15 positions, with Kubu potentially joining the 7s squad, and Eric Cantona having similar work commitments," Esilaba told Scrummage Africa.
Okello brings a wealth of experience to Kabras as he was a standout player in the 2019 National Sevens Circuit where he helped Mwamba clinch the Prinsloo and Kabeberi 7s titles and has also represented Samurai and Shujaa at the Safari Sevens.
Initially a football goalkeeper at St. Joseph Mumias High School, Okello transitioned to rugby, where he contributed significantly to Mount Kenya University (MKU) Stingers’ successes in the Nakuru 10s tournaments.
Omollo on the other hand is a proven playmaker who has been a pivotal figure at Catholic Monks, consistently leading the club’s scoring charts.
His reliable kicking amassed over 70 points last season, placing him just behind Kabras stalwart Ntabeni Dukisa in the scoring standings.
Omollo also showcased his talent with the Buffaloes during the 2024 Rugby Super Series, further establishing himself as a dependable option at fly-half and full-back.
With the additions of Okello and Omollo, Kabras aims to maintain their dominance in the Kenya Cup, targeting a fourth consecutive title.
The team begins their 2025 campaign with an away match against Strathmore Leos on Saturday 11 January.
