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Kenyan 7s prolific try machine Collins Injera is aiming to be top of the tree in the try scoring stakes by the end of the IRB Sevens World Series, according to Kenya’s Daily Nation.

Injera, a younger brother to Kenyan skipper Humphrey Kayange, was in sizzling form in Dubai in December scoring seven tries. He failed to follow this up in George only touching down twice but has promised to bounce back if selected for the next two tournaments in New Zealand and USA next month.

Injera claims it is a realistic and achievable goal to be the leading try-scorer although there are a plethora of other flyers who pose a threat to this, noticeably South Africa’s duo of Robert Ebersohn and Fabian Juries, New Zealand’s Tomasi Cama and Samoa’s Mikaele Pesamino.

Although ambitious the youngster admitted it’s his team who provide the platform for his consistent strike-rate.

“The balls come from my colleagues and I am just a finisher,” Injera admits.

Having his elder brother Kayange in the team is also an inspiration.

“We play together at Mwamba RFC and it is easy to read his or my moves,” Injera adds.

He comes from a rugby background with Kayange and Injera playing for Mwamba while the youngest, Michael Agevi, is already a first team player at Kakamega High School.

Injera notes New Zealand’s Joe Rokocoko and South Africa’s Bryan Habana as his idols and heroes.

“You know these are all wingers and match winners any day,” he adds.

Following the draws for Wellington and San Diego, the Kenyans know they will be up against it in progressing through to the latter stages of the Cup.

In the New Zealand tournament to be played on February 6 and 7 in Wellington, Kenya has been drawn in Pool A with top seeds South Africa, Scotland and Tonga. The draw for the USA leg was released on Wednesday and Kenya is in Pool B with New Zealand, France and Uruguay.

Coach Benjamin Ayimba acknowledged that as a core team which plays in all the eight tournaments, Kenya was prepared to battle on. “You can only improve your game by playing the best. The top teams know we can beat them anytime and that is exciting,” he said.

The former Kenyan captain added that his team have a deficit to make up from a poor return in South Africa. Commenting about the draw in the USA tournament to be played on February 14 and 15, Ayimba said Kenya’s aim was to maintain their eighth placing and break the barrier to the next level.

“Our placing means we are expected to reach the quarter finals of the main cup which is our basic goal but that is not enough because the semi-final is within reach also”, the coach pointed out.

Although the Kenyans have impressed everyone on the IRB circuit taking down some notable scalps, Injera believes Kenya’s potential in the IRB Sevens World Series is yet to be realised.

“We are competing against fully professional sides and just imagine if we had a fraction of what they have at their disposal"

The Kenyan government has promised support for the National 7s team in preparation for the Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament to be hosted in Dubai.

Kenyan Training Squad
The team will be selected from: Vincent Mose, Gibson Weru, Cyprian Shimenga, Simon Wariuki (Nakuru RFC), Joshua Gathumbi, Philip Moturi, Maurice Mbai (Strathmore University), Wilson Kopondo (Mean Machine), Peter Ocholla, Naftaly Bondo, Nato Simiyu, Bryan Nyikuli, Innocent Simiyu (Impala), Victor Sudi, Sidney Ashioya, Leon Adongo, Allan Onyango (Kenya Harlequin FC), George Mbaye, Collins Injera, Lavin Asego, Horace Owiti, Humphrey Kayange, Victor Oduor (Mwamba), Charles Kanyi, Benedict Nyambu, Biko Adema (Nondescripts RUFC), Andrew Amonde, Samuel Wefwafwa (Kenya Commercial Bank).