T. NashipaeNakuru RFC's playmaker Amos Obae thrilled to return to sevens circuit after four-year hiatus
Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 06.07.23. | 16:35
Obae picked a debilitating injury in 2019 that forced him to the sidelines
Nakuru RFC playmaker Amos Obae is glad to be playing in the sevens circuit after four years in the cold.
The former captain who made a triumphant 7s comeback in Kisumu will be looking to leave a mark during the Driftwood 7s set for July 8 and 9 at the Mombasa Sports Club.
Obae picked a debilitating injury in 2019 that forced him to the sidelines. He came back to the longer version of the game in the concluded 2022/23 Kenya Cup season where he captained Nakuru RFC to finish sixth on the log.
The loose forward is optimistic of turning the tides for Wanyore in the subsequent legs of the circuit after a seventh-place finish in Dala.
"Feels nice that I have attained the fitness level to play 7s since 2019 after picking an injury during the Covid period. Just like I had a good outing with 15s, I am going to give my blood and sweat in the shorter version and help my team attain its goals," Obae told Mozzart Sport.
According to Nakuru RFC head coach Kennedy Njoroge, his charges ticked all their boxes in Dala 7s day one, but the rain started beating them on the final day.
Wanyore booked a slot in the Dala 7s quarterfinals after managing two wins over Catholic Monks (19-7) and town rivals Menengai Oilers (12-7). They shared a 14-14 score with Nondies RFC.
They would however, lose 15-0 to Kenya Harlequins in the semifinals before falling 12-0 to Mwamba RFC in the fifth-place semis. The tactician however assured that they were keen to right their wrongs.
"On day one, we achieved our target because we topped the pool, and on day two, we did not achieve our target as we did not win any of our games. I think we were carried by the win against Menengai Oilers," coach Njoroge offered.
"We are sharpening some key areas like the kickoffs where we need to be more precise, our decision making especially when we are attacking. Kickoffs, we should be precise. We are giving away positions highly," he stated.
Nakuru RFC have been placed in an arguably tough pool A together with notable teams. They will be battling it out with Dala 7s winners KCB Rugby, Nondescripts who settled for challenge trophy in Kisumu.
Kenyatta University's Blak Blad are also in the pool. The gaffer is anticipating the challenge, noting it was time to test his charges' depth.
"It will be a very good challenge for us but we are ready to rock. We have trained and we are ready for our opponents," he concluded.
The side will be keen to stage a repeat of the 2018 Driftwood 7s where they edged Mwamba RFC 12-7 to win the title under the unforgiving Mombasa sun.
