Rugby
Simba Mushati, Special to ESPN 6y

Kenya favourite to win Vic Falls Sevens

World Rugby Sevens Series, Rugby

The Zimbabwe rugby sevens team face an uphill battle when they defend their title at the annual KweseSports Victoria Falls Sevens tournament this weekend.

The Zambezi Cheetahs won the inaugural event last year, but a combination of poor preparations and the inclusion of Sevens heavyweights Kenya in this year's event means the route to the title could prove a lot more challenging in 2018.

Zimbabwe will field three teams, with neighbouring Zambia bringing two. Lesotho, Uganda, Botswana Spartans and Kenya are the other participating teams, along with South African club side False Bay.

Kenya have included in their team several key players with World Sevens Series experience, and are the strong favourites to win the event.

The Shujaa are placed eighth in the series, and recently also won the Safland Sevens in Namibia. Coach Innocent Simiyu has noted significant improvement in key aspects of the game as a looks to development a Kenyan style of play.

"The team has improved in controlling the ball, breaking down skills, fitness and defence alignment," Simiyu told KweseESPN.

"We have also added new, exciting players who are playing some good running rugby. We want to see them go out there and express themselves."

Some of the players who will look to cause havoc in Victoria Falls include Frank Wanyama, Herman Humwa, Arthur Owira, Eric Ombasa, Augustine Lugonzo, who have all been featuring on the sevens circuit. The 2017 Kenya National Sevens Circuit MVP Mark Kwemoi has also made the travelling party.

The Cheetahs for their part have barely been afforded competitive action since booking their Rugby World Cup Sevens ticket last October.

Coach Gilbert Nyamutsamba will however be expecting some encouraging performances from his as preparations begin in earnest for the World Cup.

Nyamutsamba has called-up German-based Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Boyd Rouse, who plays in England, along with eight other players based in South Africa.

The Cheetahs boss will use the tournament to select his 18-men squad for the Hong Kong Sevens, after which the team will be further trimmed down to 12 ahead of the World Cup.

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