Challenger Aims to Surpass Opponent’s Record

Kenya 7s player Gabriel Ayimba has expressed his determination to surpass the legacy of his father, the late Benjamin Ayimba, particularly in the HSBC SVNS Series. Gabriel, son of the former Shujaa head coach, aims to make his mark with the senior national team.

Benjamin Ayimba’s Legacy

Benjamin Ayimba famously guided Shujaa to a historic triumph at the 2016 Singapore Sevens, becoming the first coach to lead Kenya to an HSBC Series title. He passed away in May 2021 from cerebral malaria.

Gabriel Ayimba’s Goals

Gabriel Ayimba, a forward for Strathmore Leos, previously featured for Kenya Morans and Chipu. He now aims to exceed his father’s achievements by winning more than one HSBC series title, either as a player or a coach. Speaking to NTV Sport, Ayimba explained that he initially did not have clear goals beyond school fees but now sees the bigger picture.

Preparations for HSBC SVNS 2

Kenya will host the HSBC SVNS 2 from February 13–14 at Nyayo National Stadium. Ayimba was among the 18 players selected for high-performance training in South Africa earlier in January.

Upcoming Fixtures

Shujaa will face five teams in a round-robin format, hoping to start the three-legged series strongly. They will open against Canada at 10:50 am, followed by matches against Belgium at 1:52 pm and Germany at 4:54 pm. On Sunday, they will take on Uruguay at 12:50 pm and the USA at 5:02 pm.

Series Progression

After Nairobi, the competition moves to Montevideo, Uruguay, before concluding in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The top four teams in each category will earn promotion to the elite Division 1 and secure a place in the winner-takes-all World Championships Series.