NAIROBI, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Kenya national sevens team captain Oscar Ouma said on Thursday the squad was out to work for each other this weekend to deliver the nation a second Singapore 7s Main Cup title.
Kenya, the top ranked amateur side at the HSCB World Sevens Series, made history in Singapore in 2016 when they stunned Fiji to lift their only cup title in the elite circuit.
Kenya are in Singapore on the back of successive losses to the Pacific islanders at the Vancouver 7s and Hong Kong 7s main cup finals and having underwhelmed at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games where they finished eighth. Ouma and the team are charged to bounce back to form.
"For the guys who were here (in 2016), it was all about brotherhood, playing for the man standing next to you, putting in the hard work and dedication and that's what made the difference," Ouma said ahead of the Singapore 7s.
"There's definitely a lot of positive sentiment, the fact that we won our first tournament here brings a lot of good memories and makes it a good place for us to play," Ouma added.
Kenya blew Fiji apart 30-7 on April 17, 2016 to spark a nationwide frenzy, with Shujaa returning home to a roaring reception that was aired on live television.
Since then, coach Benjamin Ayimba (who led the side to victory) has been replaced by his former captain, Innocent Simiyu and after a tepid first campaign as Shujaa boss, the incumbent has rebuilt the side into a force in the elite circuit.
Reaching the final or winning the cup will not be a stroll in the park for Kenya after being grouped in what has been described as the Pool B "of death" in Singapore where they have to overcome the challenge of England, France and USA.
Shujaa are seventh in the Series standings on 83 points, a tally that has already surpassed their haul of 68 from last year with three legs to go and Pool B rivals USA (85) are directly above them.
England (71) and France (46) are eighth and 10th in that order. The HSBC Singapore 7s is set to be a massive weekend of rugby as 52,000 fans are expected to come through the doors.
The 2018 series has been the most competitive to date with five different teams winning the first five rounds and just 41 points separating the top six teams with Kenya aiming to be crowned the sixth different winner by reclaiming the Singapore title.
