Kenyan rugby at a crossroads: Why KRU must act decisively

What you need to know:

  • However, this situation is different to cricket in that the people running rugby are sober minds, and we can only hope that the board gets its house in order quickly in order to attract new sponsors.
  • The elections are set for later this year, and it really is time for fresh faces to take over as the current administrators have outlived their usefulness in football.
  • Three years ago, Nikhil Sachania was involved in a quad bike accident that left him paralysed from waist down. Last weekend he was named Motorsports Personality Of The Year.

After an absence of 51 years, a European team finally takes on Kenya at the RFUEA Grounds at 4pm.

Portugal, a team ranked 10 places above Jerome Paarwater’s boys, should provide a stern test for a Kenya squad that’s desperately short of match practice after not competing in the Vodacom Cup this year.

Rugby is at a crossroads. Chairman Richard Omwela might have underestimated the task of turning the sport around when he took charge nearly two months ago.

With the Bamburi Super Series Rugby cancelled, the Safari Sevens touch and go due to the withdrawal of Safaricom, and Kenya Airways waiting for reforms to take place within the board before renewing their sponsorship of the sevens national team, these are tricky times for rugby.

However, this situation is different to cricket in that the people running rugby are sober minds, and we can only hope that the board gets its house in order quickly in order to attract new sponsors.

In the meantime changes are happening at the RFUEA, which is also the home of Harlequins. Mike Lucas is the new chairman, and he’s not wasted time looking for new sponsors to boost the club, along with him working tirelessly behind the scenes to revamp the dilapidated infrastructure.

The grounds have been crying for an upgrade for years and to be honest it’s an embarrassment calling it ‘The Home Of Rugby’. However change could be on its way courtesy of Lucas and his prospective business partners.

I was at venue of today’s match on Tuesday for the naming of the national squad, and I could see the stands getting a much-needed coat of paint with the pitch being fenced off. We may not have the impressive rugby facilities that Portugal has but at least the RFUEA Grounds will look much more presentable for our visitors. Well done to the organisers who’ve given up their time for this very important international test.

On the pitch, atitude and fitness will be key to who wins this game. Portugal have several players playing professional rugby in France, and their superior size will also be a factor against the amateur Kenya squad. This match will also set the stage for a busy few weeks of international rugby for the Kenyans.

AFC LEOPARDS, A NATIONAL SHAME

This must have been one of the lowest weeks for AFC Leopards, one of Kenya’s greatest clubs who’ve been literally surviving on handouts following the withdrawal of sponsor Mumias Sugar Company, who ironically are also in deep financial problems following years of mismanagement.

The players and officials have been ‘abandoned’ by the club, being owed money, which has led to some being evicted from their residences. How are they expected to perform on the pitch when they are wondering if their families are sleeping in the cold through no fault of their own?

Corruption and a general lack of management of the underlying factors behind the majority of top flight teams being in financial dire straits – and the fact that clubs like Gor Mahia and Leopards failing to control their fans, which has led to several incidents of hooliganism, means that football has an image problem. Corporates don’t want to touch clubs with a ten-foot pole right now until they get their collective acts together.

Leopards’ off the pitch problems affected them in their last league match, which they lost, and let’s hope that the caretaker committee that took over from chairman Allan Kasavuli, brings some stability to the club.

Football Kenya Federation is also finding that their actions early this year are coming back to haunt them. The company MP & Silva is now demanding compensation after FKF failed to deliver on promises.

This could be the start of several backlashes against Sam Nyamweya and company, who acted with impunity late last and early this year, as they tried to wrestle control of the top flight league from the current organisers. The fact that they also treated sponsors badly during that period will mean financiers will shy from doing anything with the current board.

The elections are set for later this year, and it really is time for fresh faces to take over as the current administrators have outlived their usefulness in football.

The way the sport has been run here mirrors the world governing body Fifa, which has stumbled from one scandal to another. Just like what occurred in Zurich this week should also happen here.

It’s time for a clean up and the elections might just be time for the broom to sweep the bad elements away.

SACHANIA'S RISE FROM ADVERSITY

Three years ago, Nikhil Sachania was involved in a quad bike accident that left him paralysed from waist down. Last weekend he was named Motorsports Personality Of The Year.

This follows his brave performances in a modified vehicle in the Kenya National Rally Championship last year. Thanks to the support of his family and navigator Charan Singh, he was able to turn his disability into ability. and wowed fellow drivers and rally fans.

The soft-spoken 24-year-old looked as shocked as everyone in attendance at the Panafric Hotel when his name was announced the winner, but there were no murmurs of discontent as most stakeholders felt the award was fully deserved.

Sachania has purchased a Fiat Grande Punto S2000 that’s been specially modified for him. It will take a few rallies for him to get used to the car, but expect this amazing man to thrill the crowds once again as he adjusts to this beast of a vehicle.