S. OchiengMwanja names Lionesses squad to Dubai
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Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 25.11.22. | 17:29
The tournament takes place from 1-3 December.
The women’s national rugby 7s head coach Dennis Mwanja has named the Kenya Lionesses squad that will play in the Dubai Sevens International Invitational Women’s Category from December 1-3 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
With the team grouped alongside Tunisia, South Africa and France Women Development, Mwanja welcomed the opportunity which comes ahead of the African qualifiers for the 2024 Olympics.
Here is the @kenyalioness squad doing duty at the International Invitational Women's competition of the @Dubai7s #KenyaLionesses pic.twitter.com/v5edYgTLC0
— Kenya Rugby (@OfficialKRU) November 25, 2022
“It is going to be an exciting pool as it is a precursor to the African qualifiers for the 2024 Olympics. Our journey has been a steady one and we are consistently learning and building. We have a fairly younger squad for this tournament,” he said.
In the team named for duty, Judith Akumu will captain the side that has Phoebe Akinyi and Sharon Auma receiving their debuts while Stella Wafula misses out after picking an injury in the 2022 Rugby Africa Women’s Cup Pool B tournament held in Kampala where Kenya emerged victorious.
“Stella Wafula will miss out due to an injury sustained at last month’s Rugby Africa tournament in Kampala. We are preserving her as we look at her recovery as part of our long-term goal for a fit athlete,’’ said the former Shujaa captain.
In the tournament, the Lionesses have been drawn in Pool A where they will face off with continental rivals Tunisia as well as South Africa Development and France Development Women who defeated them in the final of the same competition the last time it was held in 2019.
Only 1 week to go until we see these teams battle it out on Pitch One & Two in the desert 🤩
— Emirates Dubai 7s (@Dubai7s) November 24, 2022
Get your tickets at https://t.co/pAhUujpxHH!#Dubai7s #7swillreturn #worldrugby #hsbc7s #rugby7s #festival pic.twitter.com/EwTXpjKBwJ
Ahead of a rematch against the French side, the tactician looks forward to seeing see how far they have progressed almost three years later.
“Meeting France, which is a seasoned side, will be a very good measure for us because that is the level we aspire to reach,” he said.
The tournament will be the team’s first assignment since taking part in the 2022 World Rugby Challenger Series where they reached the main cup semifinals in the tournament held in Santiago, Chile.
Travelling Squad
Judith Akumu (captain), Grace Okulu, Terry Ayesa, Sinaida Mokaya, Phoebe Akinyi, Sharon Auma, Naomi Amuguni, Leah Wambui, Jean Bisela, Diana Kemunto, Christabel Lindo, Ann Goretti
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