Ayimba awarded 3-year contract

Coach Benjamin Ayimba with his players during a training session. He is the first national rugby coach to be engaged on a full-time basis. Photo/FILE

Over three years of superlative work finally yielded dividends for the charismatic national sevens rugby team coach Benjamin Ayimba when Kenya Rugby Football Union (KRFU) handed him a three-year contract.

The 33-year-old former Impala and Nondescript winger is the first national rugby coach to be engaged on a full-time basis. His contract will now enable him concentrate fully in moulding structures that will sustain the current national sevens team’s form.

The coach could, however, not disclose details of the contract, saying not everything has been finalised. It was also revealed that 22 core players on the team have been contracted for the second year running and are expected to sign their contracts by Friday.

The developments came as Ayimba named a familiar squad for the third and fourth legs of the International Rugby Board (IRB) World Sevens Series in Wellington and Las Vegas next month. The team is sponsored by Kenya Airways.

However, the squad of 12 players and four travelling reserves will leave the country on Tuesday next week to compete in the Heineken Hottest Sevens tournament in Darwin, Australia, on January 23 and 24 on their way to the IRB competitions. The total prize money at the Darwin contest is $65,000 (Sh4.9m).

Since he took over the national team’s reins in 2006, Ayimba has influenced steady improvement that has enabled the national team secure a permanent spot in the IRB World Sevens Series. The team’s best show ever was last year at the World Cup in Dubai where they stunned defending champions Fiji to reach the semi-finals.

The same year, they also reached the Main Cup final at Adelaide’s IRB World Sevens Series leg in a season they beat South Africa and New Zealand for the first time ever. “I am delighted and satisfied that something has been done at the moment,” Ayimba said on Wednesday.

“The contract will go a long way in helping me concentrate on moulding a formidable team for now and the future. The current team has taken over two years to mould and more is needed to be done since we are not there yet.” Mutai said terms and conditions in their contracts have been improved by up to 50 per cent and that they have improved their allowances and bonuses.

Three phases

The contracts have been split into three phases – the top team that has nine players, the lower team that has eight and the academy level of five players. Although details of the individual contracts were not disclosed, each player will get an additional bonus of $600 (Sh45,000) in the event the team should win any tournament in the IRB series, and $500 (Sh37,500) for reaching a final.

Each player will also earn $350 (Sh26,250) for a semi-final place. Ayimba, who has been allowed to carry two more travelling reserves, has sidelined Charles Kanyi, Naftali Bondo and Wilson Kopondo owing to poor form.

Squad: Humphrey Kayange (captain), Gibson Weru (vice captain), Lavin Asego, Innocent Simiyu, Sidney Ashioya, Brian Nyikuli, Victor Oduor, Collins Injera, Horace Otieno, Biko Adema, Andrew Amonde.
Travelling reserves: Leon Adongo, Patrice Agunda, Dennis Mwanja, Allan Onyango.
Officials: Benjamin Ayimba (Coach), Felix Ochieng (deputy coach), Oscar Osir (team manager), George Odhiambo (physio).