KENYA SUFFERS MORE CHASTISEMENT IN SAN DIEGO
 
Kenya National seven-a-side Rugby Team (red) takes on USA while fans get their kicks from
the match in San Diego, California            Photography by Ririani Murimi

By Harrison Maina and Murimi Ririani in San Diego, California

As if being hammered by the USA 33-5 on Saturday was not enough punishment, Kenya Sevens- Aside
Rugby team was licked badly again by Argentina 22-5.  This happened on weekend of 10-11th February
2007, during  the bowl category semi finals of the International Rugby Board Sevens World Series,  
 USA leg.  In a show of false hope, Kenya had earlier on hit Argentina a while ago, in the Wellington
New Zealand leg of the same competition.

Earlier in the day,  Kenya had also beaten Chile 13-12 in the quarter finals match, only to succumb to
Argentina in the semis. 

Tonga won the bowl cup by beating Argentina 22-17, while South Africa put up a brilliant performance
and scooped the plate. The shield trophy was taken by USA after whacking Portugal 26-5.
 
Despite the dismal performance of the Kenyan team, incredibly supportive Kenyan fans, who donned
Kenyan flag outfits and Maasai colors, swarmed different night spots in San Diego.  Most of the fans
were spotted where Pilipili and Jua Kali, two visiting Kenyan hip hop artists, were performing separately.
  The party lasted throughout the night, complete with Nyama Choma and all sorts of  drinks. 

The fans interviewed by ajabuafrica.com expressed hope that the Kenyan team would do better next year.
In the meantime, they hoped that the Kenyan pride will be salvaged by the world renown marathon
runners in the upcoming Boston and New York Marathons. ajabuafrica.com News © 2007


Breaking News of the rugby story

                                                 KENYA THRASHED BY US 33-5


A view of the sunny city of San Diego, California, the new venue for the Fourth International Rugby Board Sevens World Series, US leg Photo: EaUnited file
                                                                Photo Gallery
                                                
                                           by Harrison Maina in Boston and Ririani Murimi in California, 02/10/07
The Kenya Sevens aside Rugby Team was caught napping in the very first minute of this thrilling one
sided match when they were hit 10 –0 even before they got settled in the field  .The match which  was
part of the Fourth International Rugby Board Sevens World series leg, was played  last night at the
Petco Park Stadium in down town  San Diego, California.
   The dominating US team continued to pile pressure on the Kenyan defense which eventually gave way
to allow 23 more points by the end of the match, with Kenya pulling 5 points in consolation.
   The match, which was part of the Fourth International Rugby Board Sevens World series leg, was
attended by among others, hopeful Kenyan fans who had traveled from all over the United States to the
sunny San Diego. The fans put up a brave face and cheered on their team in a style reminiscent of the
popular Floodlit and Safari Sevens rugby tournaments back in the motherland, despite the lackluster
performance of the Kenyan team.
  The Kenyan fans that ajabuafrica.com talked to expressed optimism that Kenya will pull a surprise today
when they play in the Bowl category in a match slotted at 10.45 AM. They also said that apart from
loosing the match to the US, they are having a time of their lives in the beaches of San Diego , with
temperatures averaging at about 70 degrees during the day. USA advanced to the Cup finals category.
   The tournament include other teams  from  South Africa, New Zealand, Portugal, Tonga, Samoa,
England, France, Canada, Fiji, Argentina, Chile, Scotland, West Indies and Australia.
ajabuafrica.com News © 2007
 

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