Kenya 7s journey at the Sydney 7s tournament came to an unfortunate end as they were defeated by a determined Tonga in the ninth place semi-final, with a final score of 26-24 at the Allianz Stadium.
The match was a closely contested one and despite both teams scoring four tries each, Tonga’s Atieli Pakalani successfully converted three of them, which ultimately proved to be the difference in the match.
Tonga’s tries were scored by Semisi Maasi, Kyren Taumoefolau, Sioeli Filimoehala, and Tevita Manukea, while Kenya’s tries were scored by Brian Tanga and Alvin Otieno, who both put in a great effort and bagged a brace each for the team.
The match also marked the final appearance for Kenya’s veteran player Willy Ambaka, who announced his retirement from international sevens after this tournament. Ambaka has been a key member of the team for many years and his contribution to the game will be greatly missed.
The team will now shift their focus to the upcoming Los Angeles and Vancouver 7s competitions scheduled for February and March 2023. With their sights set on these tournaments, the team will be looking to bounce back and make a strong showing in the upcoming competitions.
