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Kenya's rugby teams, Shujaa and Lionesses, abruptly withdraw from the Dubai Invitational Tournament, causing disappointment among fans and players.
Kenya men's national rugby sevens team, Shujaa, has been forced to withdraw from the highly anticipated 2023 Dubai Invitational tournament, dealing a blow to their preparations for the upcoming Olympics and Challenger Series.
The withdrawal was officially confirmed by Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) chairman Alexander 'Sasha' Mutai in a statement released late Thursday evening.
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06:04 - 30.11.2023
RUGBY Shujaa captain Tony Omondi sets target for Dubai Invitational Tournament
Omondi has revealed that the spirits in camp were high and that the forthcoming tournament will play “a very big role” in helping them ahead of the Challenger Series.
Shujaa, along with the women's team, Kenya Lionesses, had been eagerly gearing up for the tournament, which was seen as a crucial part of their strategy to perform exceptionally well at the Challenger Series.
"We regret to inform you that the Kenya Sevens men and women national squads will not be able to honor their fixtures at the 2023 Dubai 7s. The teams were slated to play in the International Invitational Category in Dubai," KRU boss Mutai expressed in his statement, breaking the disappointing news to rugby enthusiasts and supporters alike.
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13:32 - 22.11.2023
RUGBY Wambua rates level of Shujaa's preparedness ahead of Challenger Series and Olympics
The Mwamba RFC tactician believes that the overall squad is “70 percent” ready for the Challenger Series and the Olympic games in 2024.
The unexpected withdrawal comes as a result of unforeseen logistical challenges that have severely disrupted the travel plans of both Shujaa and the Lionesses.
These issues have made it impossible for the teams to embark on their journey to Dubai at this point in time, a fact lamented in the chairman's statement.
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16:00 - 26.11.2023
RUGBY Shujaa sensation Patrick Odongo discusses how he is handling comparisons to the legendary Collins Injera.
Odongo’s prominent rise has already gotten rugby fans comparing him to Injera, and the budding youngster has opened up about the challenge of living up to those comparisons.
"Unfortunately, logistical challenges have negatively impacted their travel itinerary, rendering the trip to Dubai impossible at this point in time," the statement further elucidated.
Shujaa had been drawn into Pool C of the Men's International Invitation Category, a group brimming with competitive teams eager to prove their mettle on the global stage.
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17:33 - 28.11.2023
RUGBY George ‘Japolo’ Ooro returns as Shujaa name squad for Dubai Invitational tournament
Wambua has opted to recall George ‘Japolo’ Ooro, who returns to the Shujaa squad, with Herman Humwa and Brian Mutugi retaining their spots from the Safari 7s.
Their initial fixture was set to commence at 2:40 pm EAT on Friday, pitting them against the formidable R10C Selects.
The following day, they were scheduled for a clash with the formidable Wailers at 2:20 pm.
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19:00 - 19.11.2023
RUGBY Patrick Odongo-inspired Shujaa hammer Samurai to retain Safari Sevens title
Patrick Odongo continued his impressive run for Kenya Sevens as he led them to the Safari Sevens title following a 19-0 thrashing of Samurai
The culmination of their pool stage was expected to be a high-stakes showdown against Speranza 22 at 5:00 pm on the same day.
The withdrawal from the Dubai Invitational Tournament is undoubtedly a setback for Shujaa, who had meticulously prepared for this opportunity to fine-tune their skills and strategies ahead of the Olympics.
Follow the Pulse Sports Kenya WhatsApp Channel for more news.
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