Samson Onsomu, arguably one of Kenya’s most exciting sevens players has been called up to the provisional Confederation of African Rugby Sevens squad. The squad will be reduced from the initial 17 to a travelling 12, with 3 non-travelling reserves. The tournament is scheduled to be held in Harare, Zimbabwe in the weekend of November 29 and 30.
Onsomu, whose 23rd birthday will be on the first day of the CAR tournament, has won hearts through his playmaking. He steps off both feet, is quite fast,sweeps very well – has the highest return on the last man tackle in the Kenyan game, and has a knack for scoring the critical try.
To his repertoire, he’s adding leadership. This year, he captained the most exciting of Kenya’s 3 teams at the Safaricom 7s which barely, and bravely, lost to eventual winners, the Welsh Warriors. He got rave reviews. Keen rugby analyst, Kirori Mindo reckoned, ‘Onsomu is brilliant! He pulls off tricks with such ease!’
Saying ‘Onsomu finally comes good’ Peter Ndonga, writing on the most regular rugby blog in Kenya, Odd Shaped Balls Kenya (www.osbke.com), considered the Bungoma High alumnus ‘the pick of not only his side but the Kenyan sides’. He noted the player’s trademark ability to ‘shut down the opposition’s attack’ and ‘create something out of nothing within a blink, with just as much ease’
Onsomu has been in the Impala Saracens environment since he was 14. This prolonged exposure may explain his rich understanding of the game. His diminutive frame has sometimes hurt his physicality but his confidence more than makes up for the drawback. This call up must just be part of the path to make the full Kenya Sevens squad that has been struggling for a sweeper for some time.
