Rio! Here comes Kenya Sevens
Mwamba’s Dennis “Ghost worker” Ombachi on Sunday scored at the death as Kenya beat Zimbabwe 21-19 at Barnard Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa to qualify for 2016 Rio Olympic Games rugby sevens.
All seemed lost when Kenya conceded possession deep in Zimbabwe’s half for the southern African to snatch at late 17-14 lead.
OUT OF JAIL
But Kenya reclaimed the kick-off ball on the buzzer to set up Ombachi embarked on length-of-the-lead run at pace to score between the posts and literally get Kenya out of jail.
Kenya Sevens rugby team became the third team sport in the country to qualify for the Olympic Games after men’s hockey and women’s volleyball.
Hockey team last featured at the Olympics during the 1988 Seoul Games while the volleyballers were at the 2004 Athens spectacle.
Eden Agero off-loaded to William Ambaka from a tackle before putting through Skipper Andrew Amonde to score and put Kenya ahead put ahead 7-0 after Agero’s conversion.
FUMBLE
Zimbabwe muscled out Kenya from their scrum to score as Agero fumbled with the restart ball to gift Zimbabwe with another try. Zimbabwe led 12-7 at the break. Injera converted his own try to give Kenya a 14-12 lead in this tight affair as Zimbabwe were reduced to six players.
But Injera fumbled with a pass in Zimbabwe’s half for the lead to change. A composed Kenya however never stopped believing and Ombachi delivered with a typical long range try.
Kenya had thrashed Tunisia 42-12 while Zimbabwe stopped Morocco 24-0 in the semis to set up the thrilling final. Zimbabwe, Tunisia and Morocco will now proceed for the Final Qualifying tournament due next year.