KCB Rugby, the National Sevens Circuit defending champions, have secured their place in the Christie Sevens quarterfinals after a stellar performance in the opening leg of the six-leg circuit on a thrilling Saturday at the RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi.
The Bankers finished second in Pool A after winning two out of their three matches on the first day. They were drawn alongside Nondescripts, Homeboyz Rugby, and Impala RFC. As defending champions of the Christie Sevens, KCB faced a tough challenge in their opening game against Homeboyz RFC. The DJs took an early lead of 14-00 by halftime, but KCB staged a remarkable comeback through Felix Ojee, Brian Wahinya, and rising star Lionel Anjeliti, securing a narrow 17-14 victory.
In their second match, KCB demonstrated their dominance with a resounding 47-00 win over Impala RFC. Peter Kilonzo, Lionel Anjeliti, Jacob Ojee, Elphas Adunga, and Elvis Olukusi all contributed to the comprehensive victory, showcasing KCB’s strength and depth.
However, the day ended on a bittersweet note as KCB suffered a 17-14 defeat to a determined Nondies side, who finished at the top of Pool A. Despite the setback, KCB’s head coach, Dennis Mwanja, remained optimistic. “We had a good start today despite failing to finish on top of the pool, but we are looking forward to bouncing back stronger as we head to the knockout stages tomorrow. We have a few lessons to pick from today’s action, and we will come back charged for tomorrow,” Mwanja said.
KCB’s journey has been made more challenging by the absence of key players Vincent Onyalla, Samuel Asati, and Festus Shiasi, who are currently with the Shujaa team at the Paris Olympics. Additionally, Andrew Amonde, who captained the team to national sevens glory last year, is also away with the national team.
Despite these absences, KCB has shown resilience and depth, setting the stage for an exciting knockout phase as they aim to defend their Christie Sevens title.
