NAIROBI, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Kenya rugby Sevens team needs to pick up maximum points to resuscitate their fading dream of clinching an automatic ticket for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games from the World Series.
Captain Jacob Ojee expressed his hope on Thursday that his experience will count for something, as he leads a youthful team in the campaign in Hamilton, New Zealand where Kenya is up against Scotland, France and series champions South Africa in Pool C.
"It is a major task for me to lead the Kenya team. We have our problems in administration, but that will not matter when we come to the pitch. However, the team needs to improve in defense and avoid conceding soft tries.
"I have belief in the coach and the team and we will be in a good position to make it to the cup quarterfinals," Ojee said in Nairobi.
Only the top four teams at the end of the 10-tier series will clinch the automatic ticket to the Olympics Games.
Kenya last secured their ticket to Rio Olympics through the continental qualifiers with South Africa making it to the Games by finishing third in the World Series.
Ojee, who is returning to the team for the first time in five seasons, however, feels with good player alignment, they will be hard enough to soak up the waves of attacks from their rivals and be able to counter and navigate their path through to the last eight.
Kenya has only four points after picking one in Dubai and three in Cape Town. However, on the third stop of the series, the team targets 10 points. Head coach Paul Murunga says he trust the players at his disposal to do the job.
"I will not cry about the players I don't have. The team we have selected is the best at the moment and I hope to carry the day with it," said coach Paul Murunga.
Kenya has endured huge defeats since Murunga took over in November. In the opening two legs, Kenya lost 43-12 and 38-7 to Fiji, 35-14 to Scotland and 29-12 to England.
Kenya currently sit 14th in the leaderboard.
