Bigwigs make changes for Driftwood Sevens

Stanbic National Sevens Series Circuit leaders Homeboyz and the chasing pack of Nakuru, Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) and Mwamba have bolstered their squads ahead of the Driftwood Sevens that get underway on Saturday at Mombasa Sports Club.

Defending champions Homeboyz have brought on board Kenya Sevens player Jeff Oluoch and William Diffu for the first time this season to tighten their forward line, replacing Collins Shikoili and Stanley Isogon respectively.

The Deejays' coach Paul Murunga, who is determined to go for his fourth consecutive win this season, has also replaced injured scrum-half Michael Wanjala with Brian Juma to his side that open their quest against hosts Mombasa at 9.50am.

Homeboyz, who are captained by Leonard “Lord Muga” Mugaisi, will then take on Menengai Oilers at 12:40pm, before wrapping up their Pool “A” outing at the coastal city with Mean Machine from the University of Nairobi at 3.30pm.

Homeboyz top the standings with 66 points, having completed a hat-trick at Kabeberi last weekend in Machakos after previous wins at Prinsloo and Sepetuka.

Oilers reached the fifth place semi-finals at Prinsloo, before winning the Challenge Trophy at Sepetuka and Kabeberi Sevens. Machine lost in the semi-finals for fifth place at Kabeberi, having won the Challenge Trophy at Prinsloo.

“Driftwood has been the best hunting grounds for us, having won two titles there, hence we just want to complete a hat-trick,” said Murunga, adding that facing Machine and Oilers, who play a much faster game, should give them a stern test for the main cup.

Nakuru, who lost to Homeboyz 19-7 at Kabeberi Sevens final, have sought the hands of experienced Edwin Makori and Edwin Anunda, replacing Charles Odongo and Chrisant Ojwang as they launch their Pool “B” quest against Kisumu at 10.30am.

The Wanyores will later meet Kisii (1pm) and Kenyatta University’s Blak Blad (4.10pm) with head coach Mitch Ocholla vowing to go one better after reaching the Kabeberi final.

“It’s a delicate balance but we need to respond to what we did right at Kabeberi with an improved show in Mombasa,” said Ocholla.

KCB coach Dennis Mwanja has made two changes from Kabeberi Sevens, replacing injured skipper Peter Waitere and Adrian Opondo with Elly Mukaisi and Francis Muita.

Former Kenya Sevens skipper Andrew Amonde now takes the armband from Waitere.

KCB, who claimed bronze for the second consecutive time at Kabeberi, take on Impala Saracens before meeting Strathmore and Kabras Sugar in Pool “C”. After finishing fourth at Prinsloo, KCB scaled to win bronze at Sepetuka and Kabeberi.

Mwamba are placed second in the Series with 51 points followed by KCB with 49 points and Nakuru 41.

Driftwood Sevens draw

Pool A: Homeboyz, Mean Machine, Menengai Oilers, Mombasa

Pool B: Nakuru, Blak Blad, Kisii, Kisumu

Pool C: KCB, Kabras Sugar, Strathmore, Impala Saracens

Pool D: Kenya Harlequins, Mwamba, Nondescripts

Saturday’s order of play

Mean Machine v Menengai Oilers (9:30am); Homeboyz v Mombasa (9:50); BlakBlad v Kisii (10:10); Nakuru v Kisumu (10:30); Kabras Sugar v Strathmore (10:50); KCB v Impala (11:10); Stanbic Mwamba v Nondescripts (11:30); Kenya Harlequins v Makueni (11:50); Mean Machine v Mombasa (12:20pm); Homeboyz v Menengai Oilers (12:40); BlakBlad v Silverstone Kisumu (1:00); Nakuru v Kisii (1:20); Kabras Sugar v Impala (1:40); KCB v Strathmore (1:52); Mwamba v Makueni (2:20); Kenya Harlequins v Nondescripts (2:40); Menengai Oilers v Mombasa (3:10); Homeboyz v Mean Machine (3:30); Kisii v Kisumu (3:42); Nakuru v BlakBlad (4:10); Strathmore v Impala (4:30); KCB v Kabras Sugar (4:50); Nondescripts v Makueni (5:10); Kenya Harlequins v Mwamba 7:30