Wambua cuts Shujaa training squad as Safari 7s preparations intensify
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Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 04.10.25. | 14:00
The much-anticipated tournament is slated to run from 9-12 October at the Nyayo National Stadium
Kenya Sevens head coach Kevin Wambua has confirmed that the training squad for the upcoming Safari 7s has been cut down to 33 players as preparations enter the final stretch.
The much-anticipated tournament is slated from Thursday, 9, to Sunday, 12 October at the Nyayo National Stadium.
After the conclusion of the 2025 National 7s Circuit, Wambua and other selectors initially called up 49 players drawn from clubs across the country to join the provisional Shujaa camp.
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With just a week left before the tournament kicks off, the tactician revealed that the numbers have been trimmed, as the team sharpens its claws for the highly anticipated showdown.
Kenya will once again field two teams at the annual event: Shujaa and the Morans.
Shujaa are the defending champions, having defeated Shogun Rugby 12-0 in the 2024 final, while the Morans secured bronze after a 26-5 win over Zimbabwe.
Wambua expressed confidence that both sides can continue their strong run in the competition.
“So far, so good for us. We kicked off last Monday with a wider squad of 49 players. It was a bit tough because of the large numbers, but that was intentional; we really wanted to bring in as many boys as possible so they could learn how we do things here at Shujaa,” Wambua said.
The former Mwamba RFC tactician further added that last week’s sessions placed heavy emphasis on building attacking and defensive frameworks, while this week has focused on sharpening execution with the trimmed squad.
“There was a lot of learning and plenty of testing. This week, we’ve trimmed the group down to 33, and we’ll train with them until we name the Safari 7s squad. From there, we’ll narrow it further to about 25 players for the season,” he explained.
He went on to note that the progress in camp has been promising.
“So far, this week has been very encouraging; the intensity has gone up, the quality has improved, and the boys are learning quickly. We have one more day of intense sessions before we taper down as we head into competition week. I can confidently say we are in a good place,” he said.
Looking ahead to the tournament, the tactician has set clear targets for his charges.
“We’ve won the Safari 7s for the last two years, and our goal is to remain competitive and on the podium with both Shujaa and Morans. We fancy our chances again,” he concluded.
The 2025 Safari 7s marks a return to Nyayo National Stadium for the first time since 2021, when Shujaa defeated Germany in the final to lift the trophy.
The 2023 edition was held at the RFUEA Grounds, while the 2024 tournament took place at Machakos Stadium.
This will be the fourth time the 35,000-seater Nyayo National Stadium hosts the tournament, having previously staged it in 2011, 2012, and 2021 after growing attendance outgrew the RFUEA Grounds.
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