Former USA and Kenya 7s head coach, Mike Friday, is set to make a return to Kenya for the 2024 Safari 7s, scheduled to take place in Machakos County from October 11-13, 2024.
Friday will be coaching Shogun Rugby, formerly known as Samurai, which has promised to bring a squad full of surprises, including a women’s team.
Mike Friday returns
Friday, who stepped down as the USA head coach at the end of the season, will return to Kenya after nine year and be joined by former England International Michael Hunt on the coaching team as his assistant.
Shogun Rugby in a past event. They are expected for Safari 7s once again. PHOTO/Shogun/Fb
Confirmed players for the men’s squad include Spain’s Angel Bozal, Conan Osborne from Jamaica, and Russia’s Nikolai Gilev.
Shogun Rugby’s women’s team, led by coach Jonathan Hooper, will feature Scotland’s Mary Nelson, Australia’s Tiarne Cavanagh, and Uganda’s Emily Lekuru. The squad is expected to feature players from 12 different countries.
In an official statement, Shogun Rugby expressed their excitement for the tournament: “Shogun will be at this year’s Safari 7s with a surprise! Alongside our exciting group of players, we will, for the first time, field a women’s team. We are also thrilled to have former Shujaa Head Coach, Mike ‘Otoyo’ Friday, leading our men’s side.”
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Shogun also reminisced about Friday’s previous success at the Safari 7s: “The last time he was here, Friday led the team to victory, and we can’t wait to return to Machakos for another exciting tournament!”
Shogun will be at this year’s Safari 7s & we have a surprise! apart from our exciting group of players and the fact that, for the first time, we will have our women’s team playing at the Safari 7s , we shall have former Shujaa Head Coach Mike “Otoyo” Friday -… pic.twitter.com/dFLdfQfZQw
— Shogun Rugby (@Shogunrugby) October 4, 2024
In a promotional video, Friday shared his excitement about returning to the tournament: “Otoyo here, I’m coming to the Safari 7s! I haven’t been since 2015 and I’m massively looking forward to it. I’ll get to see long-term friends and a few old foes. Always remember, witchcraft is real, and Otoyo and Shogun are coming. Buckle up, and see you soon!”
In 2015, Mike Friday’s squad, which included Oscar Ouma, Sammy Oliech, and Felix Ayange, claimed a 20-19 victory over Shujaa in the Safari 7s final.
