On a cool Harare weekend that will live long in Kenyan rugby memory, the Morans stitched together a flawless campaign at the Zambezi Challenge 7s, winning every match and not conceding a single point. Their 14-0 victory over hosts Zimbabwe Cheetahs in the final crowned a tour de force built on suffocating defense, accurate finishing, and a squad that grew in confidence with every whistle.
A weekend of total control
The tone was set on day one at Harare Sports Club. Drawn in Pool B with Old Hararians and the Pitbulls, the Morans announced themselves with a 41-0 dismantling of Old Hararians, then closed the day with a clinical 36-0 win over Pitbulls. Two games, two wins, zero points conceded, the numbers told a story of dominance that matched the eye test.
In that opening salvo, captain John Okoth crossed first against Old Hararians, a steadying score that paved the way for Rayvon Ambale and Brian Mutua before halftime. The second half belonged to Kenya’s pace and precision, with Floyd Wabwire and Victor Mola Odhiambo turning pressure into points. Mola, who would become a recurring menace through the weekend, completed a hat-trick to underline Kenya’s authority.
The knockout path that amplified belief
By Sunday morning, the Morans were not easing off. They thrashed Old Miltonians 48-0 in the quarterfinal, a performance that mirrored their blend of physicality and poise. The try sheet was a team portrait, from an early strike by Wabwire to a sharp finish by Chrissant Ojwang, plus a composed effort from Gabriel Ayimba. Ambale grabbed a brace after the interval, with Victor Mola and Dennis Abukuse adding to the tally. When Old Miltonians went down to six men, Daniel Kipchirchir reacted quickest, diving in for the final try of a comprehensive win.
The semifinal against Old Georgians turned into a statement. Kenya ran riot 61-0, starting as they meant to continue with Mola slicing through inside the first minute. Ambale punished a passing error for the second try and converted, then turned provider from a scrum as Abukuse crossed to push the game further out of reach before halftime. After the break Abukuse struck again, Ambale created for Okoth, Jackson Siketi countered brilliantly for another score, Wabwire joined the party, and two late tries sealed a truly one-sided affair.
On the other side of the bracket, Zimbabwe Cheetahs edged Pitbulls 24-19 in sudden death to book a home final. The stage was set, the atmosphere thick with anticipation, and Kenya’s defensive record now stretched across four straight shutouts.
The final where patience met precision
Finals are often about nerve and detail, and this one followed the script. The first half was tight, both teams defending with intensity and refusing to blink. After the restart, KCB Rugby speedster Floyd Wabwire changed the rhythm. He found space, trusted his acceleration, and broke the deadlock. When the next chance arrived, he finished again, sealing a 14-0 win and handing the Morans the trophy. Across six games, Kenya had built a platform on resilience, then when the moment came, they turned the final with two bursts of ruthless pace.
Ambale takes MVP, Wabwire ignites the finish
Kabras RFC youngster Rayvon Ambale was named tournament MVP, a reflection of his two-way influence. He was decisive as a scorer and a creator in the semifinal, and he had already left a mark earlier with tries and conversions that established Kenya’s scoreboard rhythm. His award captured the balance of this Kenyan performance, teamwork first, individuals rising in the key moments.
Wabwire, meanwhile, owned the spotlight in the last act. His brace in the final settled a tense contest and reinforced a theme that ran through the weekend, Kenya’s ability to keep their shape, absorb pressure, then strike with speed and composure. For a squad that had spoken about building confidence and execution, the clarity in those final metres was the perfect payoff.
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How preparation shaped perfection
The Morans arrived in Harare with the wind at their backs. Only weeks earlier at the Safari 7s, they had finished third, defeating Zimbabwe in the bronze match after also beating the Cheetahs in the pool stage. That recent record against the hosts mattered, familiarity with the contest and assurance under pressure. It mattered too that head coach Kevin Wambua had shaped a group mixing youth and experience, including the return of captain John Okoth from injury and the presence of steady hands like Ayimba and Abukuse alongside rising talents.
Wambua’s focus before the tournament was clear. He talked about building on the Safari 7s and refining performance details, the tactical and technical layers that allow a team to repeat good habits. His words landed with the calm conviction of a coach who trusted his plan, and the players repaid that trust with a spotless ledger in Harare.
We are building from the Safari 7s, and the preparations have been good. The focus has been on performance and how we can build on what we achieved. The boys have responded well so far, and the objective is to give them confidence in their abilities with a bit of tactical and technical upskill.
He also framed the event as a springboard, a space for the next wave to learn the cadence of international sevens. That is where the pieces came together, a captain setting the tone, creators and finishers in sync, and youngsters seizing minutes as if they had been waiting for this exact invitation.
We have assembled a quality squad with a blend of skill, energy, and hunger to compete. This is an important step for these players as we continue strengthening the pipeline for the national sevens program. We believe they are ready to represent the country with pride and deliver excellent performances.
New faces and familiar sparks
This Morans group was not just cohesive, it was fresh. Daniel Kipchirchir made his international debut, a memorable milestone that he marked with a quarterfinal try. Victor Mola Odhiambo carried his prolific domestic form into Harare with a hat-trick in the opener and a first-minute strike in the semifinal. Siketi’s clever dummy and solo run against the Pitbulls captured the ambition coursing through the side, a willingness to back instinct once the platform had been earned.
There was steel too. Clinton Amukwachi brought heft to contact, Brian Mutua knitted phases and support lines, and Okoth’s leadership anchored the team’s composure. The sum was greater than the parts, and that sum added up to six wins, 200-plus minutes of control, and a rare tournament clean sheet.
Zimbabwe rivalry and a statement of depth
Beating the hosts in Harare, twice in the space of a month if we count Safari 7s, is no small feat. The Cheetahs are proud, organized, and comfortable in tight games, as their sudden-death semifinal suggested. Kenya’s 14-0 final victory was not a runaway, it was a patient dismantling, the kind that speaks to tactical maturity as much as athletic advantage. For a second-string national side, the statement was unmistakable, depth is real, and readiness for higher stages is genuine.
This run also marked the Morans’ third straight win over Zimbabwe in a little over a month, including the 27-7 pool triumph and the 19-12 bronze win at the Safari 7s. Context matters, this was not an isolated burst, it was part of a steady upward curve for a group that has learned how to manage pressure, take chances, and close games.
Results that tell the story
- Pool B, Kenya Morans 41-0 Old Hararians
- Pool B, Kenya Morans 36-0 Pitbulls
- Quarterfinal, Kenya Morans 48-0 Old Miltonians
- Semifinal, Kenya Morans 61-0 Old Georgians
- Final, Kenya Morans 14-0 Zimbabwe Cheetahs
What this means for Kenya Sevens
In the immediate glow of victory, it is easy to focus only on the silverware. Yet the broader takeaway is just as significant. Head coach Kevin Wambua can look at Harare and see validation for selection and development, a blend of trusted performers and eager newcomers who adapted to tournament tempo and executed across two days. As the senior side shapes a busy 2025 calendar, the pipeline looks both competitive and composed.
There was strategic cohesion too. The Morans defended in connected lines, countered with intent, and varied their strike points, with finishers like Wabwire and Mola fed by creators in space. They controlled restarts, punished errors, and maintained discipline in contact. Those habits travel well, and they travel even better when a group has tasted the satisfaction of winning with clarity.
From build-up to breakthrough
Before a ball was kicked in Harare, the Morans had identified the Zambezi 7s as a proving ground. They had refreshed the squad after Safari 7s with experienced names like Ayimba, Abukuse, Ojwang, and Wabwire, and they had injected form players and prospects, including Mola, Siketi, Nyangige, Amukwachi, and the debutant Kipchirchir. The pool draw with Old Hararians and Pitbulls promised battles of attrition, yet Kenya navigated those hurdles with a blend of patience and pace.
What followed was a crescendo. The quarterfinal thumped out a beat of control, the semifinal turned into a virtuoso chorus, and the final, tight as it was, became a duet led by Wabwire. In sevens, control can be fragile and momentum can flip in a heartbeat. The Morans refused to let it flip, they managed the clock, trusted their systems, and finished the job.
The image that lingers
When the last whistle sounded, it was not just the scoreboard that resonated, it was the manner of the campaign. Six games, six wins, no points conceded, and a final turned by a speedster’s composure. It spoke of hours on the training ground and a shared belief. It spoke of a coach’s plan and a captain’s calm. Most of all, it spoke of a group that arrived to compete and left with a trophy, a standard, and a memory that will travel with them into the next challenge.
Harare felt like a hinge in the door of Kenya’s sevens year. The Morans pushed it wide open, and on the other side lies opportunity, selection battles, and the continued sharpening of a squad that has already shown it can handle the heat. For now, they can savour the clean sweep in Zimbabwe, a perfect weekend with the sheen of something lasting.
