It was in the last eight, however, that Shujaa truly made a statement.
They pushed eventual champions South Africa to the limit, narrowly losing 26-22 in a match decided in the closing moments.
South Africa would go on to underline their dominance, beating New Zealand 26-7 in the semifinals before thrashing Argentina 35-7 to lift their first-ever Hong Kong title.
For Amonde, Kenya’s performance against the Blitzboks is proof that Shujaa are not far off the mark.
“Hong Kong was a positive outing for us. We came in targeting a quarterfinal spot, and we achieved that. Finishing in the top eight and ultimately seventh is another big plus. It’s about continuing to tick the right boxes.
We still have two more tournaments where we need to reach the quarters consistently, and that’s how we get back fully into the circuit,” Amonde told Mozzart Sport.
Reflecting on the narrow defeat to South Africa, the KCB Rugby tactician emphasized the importance of composure against elite opposition.
“Those are the benchmarks we need to measure ourselves against the top teams. We have to stay composed and focused when we face them. We started slowly but picked up well. It’s part of the growth process, especially with a young squad competing at this level. If we maintain our mental focus and make the right decisions in key moments, we can easily push into the semifinals,” he offered.
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The former Kenya Sevens skipper believes the Blitzboks’ eventual triumph only strengthens Shujaa’s belief, noting that Kenya came closer than most to stopping the champions.
“That result is a statement for us. It shows we are capable of going all the way. If we keep our focus and morale high, we are bound to win one of these tournaments. We are among the few teams that truly tested South Africa, and that should give us belief,” he offered.
Shujaa will now turn their attention to back-to-back tournaments in Valladolid from May 29 to 31, before wrapping up their campaign in Bordeaux from June 5 to 7.
The stakes remain high, with the top eight teams at the end of the series earning promotion to the top-tier circuit.
