New Faces, Fresh Hope as Shujaa Name Squad for European Sevens Battle


tafanews

sports desk

Kenya’s Shujaa have handed exciting winger Victor Odhiambo Mola a breakthrough opportunity after naming him in the squad for the final two legs of the HSBC SVNS Series in Valladolid, Spain and Bordeaux, France.

The inclusion of Mola, one of the standout performers in the National Sevens Circuit, headlines coach Kevin “Bling” Wambua’s latest squad selection as Kenya looks to finish the season strongly against the world’s best.

For the youthful winger, the call-up marks the reward for months of impressive performances on the local circuit, where his pace, footwork and attacking instinct have made him one of the rising stars of Kenyan rugby. Wambua believes the new entrant brings something different to the national side.

“Injury kept Mola out of SVNS 2, but we are happy to have him now. He is agile, quick, and can give the team the X factor,” said Wambua.

Mola’s promotion also reflects Shujaa’s growing trust in local talent development, with the National Sevens Circuit continuing to serve as the main pathway into the national team. The circuit itself has remained highly competitive in recent seasons, supported by increased commercial backing, including sponsorship from , which has contributed to improved organization, exposure, and player development opportunities across participating clubs.

Apart from Mola, the squad also welcomes back Chrissant Ojwang, who returns from injury to strengthen the side after missing recent assignments. Ojwang replaces Gabriel Ayimba, who is unavailable due to school commitments. Patrick Odongo has also recovered in time after missing the closing stages of the Hong Kong leg through injury.

The squad heads to Europe carrying confidence after encouraging performances in Hong Kong, where Kenya secured a seventh-place finish. However, Wambua says the focus now is on improving composure and decision-making in crucial moments.

“We’ve analysed our performances, especially moments like the South Africa quarterfinal loss in Hong Kong, and worked on improving their decision-making in key moments,” he explained.

Shujaa spent ten days in residential training camp at Kasarani fine-tuning attack, defence, speed and game awareness ahead of the decisive stretch of the season.

The task ahead remains daunting. Kenya has been drawn in a brutal Pool A alongside South Africa, Australia and Great Britain at the iconic — a group many have already labelled the tournament’s “group of death.”

Still, within the Kenyan camp, there is optimism that the blend of experienced campaigners and hungry new entrants like Mola can help Shujaa challenge rugby sevens giants on the European stage.

For Mola, the call-up represents more than selection into a squad. It is a chance to announce himself to the global game and prove that Kenya’s next generation of rugby stars is ready for the spotlight.

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