Menengai Cream Homeboyz centre Oscar Ayodi has been named the new Kenya Sevens captain.
Oscar Ayodi takes over from KCB’s Andrew Amonde and will skipper the national sevens side at the World Sevens Series that begins in December.
“We have been practicing for the past three months and the boys are confident of a good performance in Dubai and Cape Town because we have had a good pre-season. We are looking forward to a good performance since the team has been conditioned well under the new Strength and Conditioning coach,” Ayodi said at RFUEA grounds during team’s training.
Ayodi’s captaincy debut season comes a time Kenya has a full plate as they have to compete at the World Sevens Series, 2018 Commonwealth Games and Sevens World Cup.
“It’s a big task but of course, with the senior guys in the team and also the support from the junior players it’s going to be not so hard. I am looking forward to the challenge,” said Ayodi during Tuesday’s training session at RFUEA grounds.
His first assignment will be Dubai 7s on December 1 where Kenya 7s plays Uganda, Canada and South Africa.
Ayodi had an injury-hit campaign in 2016/2017 season playing only sevens matches and scoring no point.
In his Sevens career, the 27-year old has played 117 matches, scoring 180 points and 36 tries.
The Vihiga High School Alumni won the DHL impact player award during 2016’s Singapore 7s sharing with Fiji’s Kitione Taliga. They had peak performances that scored them each 40 points. This is from 10 tackles, 4 breaks, 3 offloads and 23 carries.
Amonde, who is 33 now, became the first captain to win a World Sevens Series leg when Kenya 7s beat Fiji at Singapore 7s in 2016.
Amonde has been Kenya’s captain 2012 and skippered the team to the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Since making his debut, Amonde has played 267 matches scoring 220 points from 44 tries. He has been sent to the bin 11 times and has never received a red card. In 2016/2017 season, Amonde played 55 matches and scored 50 points.
