Kenya men’s rugby team (Shujaa) captain Nelson Oyoo is hoping for a good outcome in the side’s second game against Jamaica at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Shujaa began their Commonwealth Games rugby sevens campaign with a 27-14 victory over African champions Uganda.
Tries from Johnstone Olindi, Herman Humwa and Billy Odhiambo alongside Olindi’s sole conversion gave Shujaa a 17-0 lead before Timothy Kasiga’s converted try cut the scores to 17-7 at the break.
Philip Wokorach would then score and convert his own try after the restart for a 17-14 score before Olindi and Kevin Wekesa landed second half tries to give Shujaa the result.
Oyoo has expressed his joy after the commanding victory and hopes things go the same way when the Damian McGrath’s charges face Jamaica in the second outing of pool D later today.
“I think it was a good game, coming in for a camp of 7 weeks and coming to have our first game. You know for a tournament to start with a win is a good start. Although at some point we felt like we are losing focus and maybe some absence in the gameplay,” he said.
“So we are taking the win to the next gane. There is no less opponent in this tournament. So we are going to take it like any other game and give them the respect they deserve.” He added.
On the other hand, Shujaa head coach Damian McGrath welcomed the results gladly.
“We started well but I think the emotion of the whole occasion sought a lot of energy from us and in the end it got scrappy, but all you can do on a day is win. You get no trophies on the first day so a win is a win for us. To win and in the manner we did, we get to be happy.”
Up next is a clash against Jamaica at 8.58pm East African Time.