Kenya Sevens sensational star Alvin ‘Buffa’ Otieno has jumped ship and joined Kenya Cup champions KCB on a one-year deal from Homeboyz RFC.
Otieno has been in sensational form for the national team over the last two seasons and his arrival at KCB will definitely strengthen them as they aim to dominate sevens rugby next season as much as they have dominated the longer version of the game for the last five season.
“I am really pleased to be joining KCB because it is a big and ambitious club. I have just wanted to give myself a new and tougher challenge and what KCB present is ideally what I would love for myself,” Otieno told SportsLeo.
He added; “I have been at Homeboyz for long and I really want to thank them for the opportunity they gave me to express my talent and develop. But always for a player, there comes a time when you have to seek a new challenge.”
The marauding speedstar trained with the bankers for the first time on Tuesday evening.
Alvin Otieno in action for the national team
KCB have also signed Bob Muhati from Homeboyz, having impressed when handed a platform to try out at the Safari Sevens. Also joining the team is Kenyatta University’s Blakblad scrumhalf Brian Wahinya, another arrival that underlines KCB’s ambition for the new season.
Meanwhile, Otieno expects to win more silverware with KCB having clinched the Enterprise Cup and National Sevens Circuit with Homeboyz.
Apart from the club duties, Otieno also wants to do more for the national team. At the World Series and Olympic Games in Tokyo, Otieno was Kenya’s standout star.
“I can say it has been a very good season for me especially playing at the Olympic Games. For any sportsman, the Olympics is always the ultimate and for me, that has been the standout moment so far,” explains Otieno.
He adds; “I gained so much experience and playing there has given me more hunder to be there again so I just need to keep working hard and doing my best for the team.”
Alvin Otieno in action for the national team at the Safari Sevens
The new season portends a very tough patch for the team with the Sevens World Cup and the Commonwealth Games coming up. The season starts proper at the end of the month with the Dubai Leg of the World Sevens Series.
“It is going to be a really tough season and we have to be at a good place as a team. The last two legs in Canada gave us a good footing in and we had very many promising performances. Now we need to look at the new season with hope and confidence and I know we will perform well. We have to try and medal in the World Cup and Commonwealth Games,” he said.
Meanwhile, Otieno says the increased visibility he has received so far will not deter his focus.
“For me, I look at it as motivation. It has never gotten to my head that many people are talking about me or I am becoming very famous. I just want to keep my head low, work hard and just continue doing my thing,” Otieno added.
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