Relegation threatened Shujaa set to rope in experienced Amonde, Agero to help team avoid the drop

The men’s national rugby 7s side Shujaa are set to bring on board retired skipper Andrew Amonde and experienced Eden Agero to the team’s coaching set up in a bid to help the Damian McGrath currently coached side preserve their status in the prestigious HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.

Shujaa currently find themselves staring at the possibility of being relegated from the Series for the first time since 2004 as they sit in 13th place – a relegation playoff spot – on 30 points, ten behind 11th position which guarantees safety.

With teams sitted in 12th 13th and 14th at the end of the penultimate Toulouse 7s set to enter a four-team relegation play-off together with the 2023 Challenger Series winners at the eleventh and final round of the Series in London, Shujaa have made the move to add the former national team players to try and pull the rabbit out of the hole.

In a move that will see Amonde offer help in handling the forwards and Agero in dealing with the backs, Shujaa hope the efforts by Kenya Rugby Union will help in preserving the team’s status on the Series.

“KRU requested and reached out to us to help the team and because I want the team to stay on the Series and to grow as a coach, it is something I am definitely willing to do,” Amonde told Mozzart Sport.

“Before they went to Hong Kong, we met with them and the coach and imediately after they land back from Singapore things will be clearer because we now have a sitting board that is willing to work with us and that already approached us regarding the work.

My department will be on the forwards, set play attacks and things that we can correct in the short time that we will be having with them. Eden on the other hand will work with the backs, line out throws and kicks,” he pointed out.

Having been an ever-present in the team since 2012 before his retirement in 2021 after the Tokyo Olympics, Amonde noted the team has what it takes to beat the drop heading into the crucial outings remaining in the Series.

“There is always hope. This is not the first time that Kenya is finding itself in such a situation and they pulled through before. What will count right now is just a matter of doing things in an extraordinary way as players.

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It is a tough situation that can go either way but if they do things right then they will maintain their status,” he stated.

“The big thing for me will be helping them to believe in themselves, to make them do the right things at the right time and to help them reduce their mistakes in the game which they have been punished for,” he added.

Amonde, who is on the verge of completing his World Rugby Level 2 coaching badges, also expressed his delight in the opportunity which will help in laying the foundations as he makes his transition from playing to coaching.

“This chance is also a good step and challenge for me to see what I can pick and learn from them. It is also a good opportunity to see what I can offer to them from the experiences I have already,” he concluded.

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Shujaa will be playing in Singapore hoping to recreate the 2016 magic that saw them clinch their first and only main cup title. They face France, USA and Uruguay.

Shujaa Fixtures

Saturday 3 April

Shujaa vs France (6.20AM)

Shujaa vs USA (9.24AM)

Shujaa vs Uruguay (1.07PM)