Kayange: The Commonwealth Sevens dream

In the aftermath of the pool draw for the Rugby Sevens competition at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Kenya captain Humphrey Kayange looks ahead to Delhi.

I think for all of the guys it's a great feeling to have Delhi on the horizon and a dream for some of us who missed out on the last Commonwealth Games.

Only a few of the team now were in Manchester and Melbourne and for all of us it's a unique opportunity to go and win a medal for our country, and show even more people how far the game of Rugby Sevens has come on.

The action, the excitement, the pace, it is such a good spectator sport and I'm sure there will be a lot of Kenyan supporters there because they always seem to travel to support us in their hundreds and their thousands, to the point where many people - media and even other players and coaches - talk about our support on tour.

I missed the last Commonwealth Games and for me it's a really big thing. Four years on I'm still here, I think I've developed into a better player and it will also be a great feeling to be there and sharing a real life experience with my brother Collins (Injera).

I think the feelings and memories you get from taking part in something like a Commonwealth Games, they live with you for the rest of your life, so we are both looking forward to it, along with the rest of the squad.

One of the things we're most looking forward to is sharing the athlete's village, including with the Kenyan distance runners. Right now within Kenya they still come above us, but we're working hard, trying to get near the top of our game too and maybe we can change that pecking order - it will take a lot of work though.

Tough trio of pool games

Ever since the pools came out, there has been a real excitement in Kenya. The fans have been talking, the media has been discussing the opportunity for us to go there and win a medal for our country, and for us the preparations are just beginning.

We've obviously got our eyes set on that big pool game against Samoa, the World Series champions, but we'll be taking it one game at a time and not underestimating any of the teams, least of all Papua New Guinea and then our big local derby against Uganda.

The rivalry with the Cranes is intense: our 15-a-side team is involved in the Victoria Cup at the moment against Uganda and Zimbabwe, and also the Elgon Cup with just Uganda.

Those test matches came a little soon for us Sevens players after the long season and the coaches had to take the hard decision to rest some of us because it had been quite a while since we had a good rest and we needed that chance to recharge the batteries in time for the Commonwealth Games.

And rest is important in Sevens, because when you put the physical work in, on and away from the pitch, you put it in 100%. Last season we started well but half way through I think fatigue set in and we found it hard to operate at the same level. But by the time we get back into it now I think we'll be fully refreshed - physically and mentally.

We're happy that everything else is in place, it's just down to us now to get the work done, get the fitness back in and get out there, take our opportunities, represent our country and bring home a medal because that has to be the ultimate goal.

If we do that we can set a new era in Kenyan rugby and help our development to carry on.

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