Pacy Ambaka sets sights on clinching World Cup slot

PHOTO | FILE Kenya National Sevens team player William Ambaka in action at a past match. He is among six players dropped from the national rugby team that leaves Wednesday for the 2015 Rugby World Cup qualifiers in Madagascar.

What you need to know:

  • Head coach Jerome Paarwaters last week led the team to high altitude training in Nanyuki, the very conditions they will find in Madagascar.
  • The hard-hitting winger has enjoyed a great first season with French side Lyon Olympic Universitaire (LOU), earning promotion to the French Top 14 after winning the second tier title, the Pro D2.

After forming an integral part of the national sevens rugby team between 2011 and 2013, winger Willy Ambaka has set his sights on helping the 15s team qualify for next year’s Rugby World Cup for the first time.

The 2012-2013 IRB World Sevens player of the year nominee is expected to feature prominently as the team starts its 2015 World Cup qualifiers campaign next Saturday.

The CAR Division 1A Cup in Madagascar will double up as African qualifiers for next year’s World Cup in England. Kenya will have to ward off competition from Namibia, Zimbabwe and the hosts to secure the single qualification slot on offer.

Head coach Jerome Paarwaters last week led the team to high altitude training in Nanyuki, the very conditions they will find in Madagascar.

“The tournament is a good opportunity for us, and everyone is working hard. Competition for team places is very tight. Everyone has to earn his place in the team, meaning only the best will be selected,” said Ambaka in Nanyuki. The national team coaches have acknowledged his value on their backline, and believe he can help take the team places.

“His size and pace is extraordinary for a winger, his leadership skills are great and it is difficult to ignore the experience he picked up from his first season in France. He has shown what damage he can cause,” said assistant coach Charles Ngovi.

“We hope to use him to break the first line of defence, and it is something he has been good at even on the world stage.”

He added that Ambaka’s defence is exemplary, and will be key to the team in Madagascar. Ambaka made a debut for the 15s team in Kenya’s friendly against Western Province a fortnight ago and he gave a good account of himself.

The hard-hitting winger has enjoyed a great first season with French side Lyon Olympic Universitaire (LOU), earning promotion to the French Top 14 after winning the second tier title, the Pro D2.

Ambaka’s eight tries for the season saw LOU finish tops with 114 points, 19 ahead of second-placed La Rochelle.

Being the defending champions, pressure will be on Kenya as Namibia seeks to assert its status as the second best team in the continent after South Africa to qualify for a third consecutive 15s Rugby World Cup.

Kenya kicks off her campaign against Namibia next Saturday as Madagascar take on Zimbabwe in the other fixture of the day. Ambaka has however downplayed the perception that pressure will be on Kenya, saying the team has already strategized for any possible outcome.

“We aren’t feeling too much pressure. In as much as our primary target is a win, it is a round robin tournament so we shall still have a chance to rectify any mistakes,” he said.