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Kenya dance to the beat of the Kayumbeta at the Safari Sevens

Monday 22 June 2009 (Rachel Mueni, UR7s)

They promised their fans a thrilling two days of rugby. They lived up to it and so much more as the Kenya national sevens side paraded home, having so worked hard to clinch their second consecutive Safari Sevens Title.

From the young to the elderly no one could miss the action as the ground filled as early as 7.30 am before theevent kicked off at 9am.

It would of seemed unthinkable only a few years ago in Kenya that one man would rouse so much emotion and attention from just a touch of a ball and put 10,000 people on their feet. This was just a tip of the action as Collins Injera stole the tournament action with his sensational running.

He was idolized by many while others were driven by different desires other than watching the game it was a fashion competition as the men and women sought to outdo each other. It was quality on and off the pitch.

The 16 teams came with a goal to clinch the much coveted Sevens title but only one could emerge the winner. The numbers in the crowd and quality of competition gave the Safari Sevens a feeling that the tournament had come of age....

National colours were flying high with fans supporting different teams even the Prime minister Raila Odinga was present, the competition of whose voice was loudest saw no genuine losers as voices just gave up but the Kenya's Kayumbeta was the loudest, as the home crowd cheered all weekend.

The 14th edition lived to its bill and a record 10,000 people convened at the RFUEA grounds to cheer and share their moments with the stars as it has become the such a highly attended series since inauguration.

The Village was buzzing with activities from bouncing castles for children to tented restaurants and in the evening the Homeboys DJ's span music after the event.

The national team's popularity eclipsed any other team as their fans demanded to see the form from this years IRB series, even during their lap of honour the team had to give the thirsty fans a jig to the famous Kayumbeta.

Kenya had an easy pool A as they overcame Western High Raiders 22-5, dismissed Tanzania 49-0 and later thrashed Japan 56-0 to top the pool. They later met their own 3rd string side which had entered under the Chairman's select and saw them off 29-0.

In the other groups the upset of the day came with the Kenya 2nd string named the 'Shujaa' for the day, upset IRB side Samoa but were unable to top their group due to points difference.

World travellers Samurai put down their marker with a comprehensive group victory after which they went on to defeat Zimbabwe (former winners) 17-0 in their quarter-final.

A game which everyone thought worthy of the final on paper turned out to be one sided in the semi-finals with Kenya turning over Samurai 24-0 due to some magic from Injera.

The 2nd semi-final was worthy of the final, not on paper but on the field itself. Samoa took on last years runners-up Emerging Boks. The boks riding a wave of success with victory in the IRB series have a bright future from this showing and certainly wont be a one-hit wonder. The game went back and forth and the sides could not be separated in the 14 alloted minutes, so sudden-death it went to and it was the young Emerging side that broke the deadlock and booked their place in the final with a stunning try winning the game 27-22

The final was once again to be contested between 2 African nations akin to last year and it was the Emerging Boks who drew first blood to lead 0-7 but the Kenyans were able to take command of things from mid-point in the first half. Once their noses were in front and crowd was in a state of delirium the Boks side capitualted under the might of World player of the Year nominee Injera who went on to cross the line four times to see Kenya earn the win at 40-19.

“It was tough playing at home; we had a lot of pressure on our shoulders. We had to ensure we didn't have any slip ups and we lived up to our word to quench the thirsty spectators,” said Benjamin Ayimba the Kenya coach.

The Western Raiders of South Africa went on to clinch the Plate after they beat Chairman's select 19-12. The plate was contested by the losing sides from the Cup quarters and the Kenyan strength in depth was obvious by such a strong showing from the 3rd string.

Bristol University (former winners) needed only a single try to lift the Bowl against Les Blues. Though the game lacked scores, it showed a different side to the modern game of 7s as both teams defended resolutely but it was the English side who found a way through and can travel home with a trophy in hand

Japan who also can be seen in certain IRB tournaments throughout the world also went home with some silverware. As losing bowl quarter-finalists they went into the shield and made it to the final beating Zambia 22-0

The schools tournament is widely seen throughout Africa as one where up and coming players of the future can be seen and it was the holders Western who retained their trophy. A number of boys from the squad will surely be vying for honours with the Kenyan national side in the future.

The ladies tournament was a much more one sided event underlined by Mwamba beating Vivi 60-0 in the final. Though it must be noted that the Mwamban side played some fantastic free flowing rugby and thoroughly deserved their victory.

The whole event; boys, ladies and men lived upto its billing as the top sevens event in Africa. The target is expansion next year and the KRFU's chairman Richard Omwela is aiming to bring more top quality sides to Ngong Road and perhaps have a 2nd tier event.

The Safari Sevens is complete for another year and somewhat fittingly the side who have got everyone talking throughout the year on the international series are dancing to the Kayumbeta once again.

'Lets go Kenya, Lets go!'

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