KCB Rugby club have announced four new signings that are expected to bolster the squad before the National Sevens Circuit commence.
Elvis Namusasi, Lionel Ajeliti, William Opaka, and Austin Sikutwa are the new members of the club that are eyeing a far better campaign than the last one, in which they did not manage to win a single silverware.
Strengths of new signings
Opaka’s arrival is expected to strengthen the backline, and his experience, acquired from his time with Kabras Sugar and the Kenya U20 side, is expected to be key to his stint with the Bankers.
Namusasi is an equally experienced star, having been part of Mwamba and Mombasa RFC. His arrival is expected to boost the fly-half position for KCB.
Sikutwa joins the club from the Menengai Oilers, and his signing is a crucial recruitment scoop as he was one of the experienced centres of his former club.
Ajeliti is known for his composure and calmness, and his arrival is expected to give the Bankers the needed competitive edge when the next season begins. He can play as a centre and fly-half and joins KCB from Blak Blad.
The four signings have been confirmed after Blak Blad announced the departure of Nick Okulo to KCB. Okulo is one of the top players, and his arrival at KCB is expected to create stiff competition within the club.
Okulo was a key figure at Blak Blad, and should he replicate his form at KCB, then the Bankers will transform into a far better side.
After the departure of Curtis Lilako, a long-serving member of the club, the Bankers were expected to intensify their search for new players.
The signings from Blak Blad are a continuation of the recent tendency of KCB to raid Blak Blad for its top players. Recent movements saw the transfer of Brian Wahinya and Levi Amunga from Blak Blood to their rivals.
These signings are seen as vital additions to the club whose ambition is to rebuild itself into a more competitive team. On their part, the new recruits will hope to have individual successes as they prove that they can still deliver at the top level.
Given that they did not win any silverware last season, the signings are expected to bring fresh blood into the group and help the Nairobi-based outfit compete for trophies once the season kicks off.
KCB are keen to return to its glory days in the Kenya Cup and Enterprise Cup. They have been unable to claim those titles, which were won by their arch-rivals, Kabras Sugar.
The new players are set to test themselves in the upcoming Sevens Circuit, which will begin in early July with the Dala Sevens.
The national circuit fixtures were recently revised, and the Tisap Sevens will be held on Saturday, September 2, at the Eldoret Sports Club. Initially, it had been programmed to take place on Saturday, June 24.
Driftwoods Sevens, which is the second circuit, has been scheduled for Saturday, July, 8 at Mombasa Sports Club. After the Driftwoods, the national circuits will adjourn for a break in order to accommodate the World Rugby U20 Trophy in Nairobi in July.
Thereafter, Prinsloo Sevens will be held at the Nakuru Athletics Club on Saturday, August 5, before Christie Sevens in Nairobi on Monday, August 7.
At the ultimate stage, the top teams will feature in the George Mwangi Kabeberi Memorial Sevens on Saturday, September 9, in Nairobi.
National Circuit fixtures
Dala 7s | Kisumu | July 1-2
Driftwood 7s | Mombasa | July 8-9
Prinsloo 7s | Nakuru | August 5-6
Christie 7s | Nairobi | August 12-13
Tisap 7s | Eldoret | September 2-3
Kabeberi 7s | Nairobi | September 9-10
