Dear KRU, please don't set up Kenya Sevens for failure!

Kenya Sevens return to the country from the first two legs of HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Dubai and Cape Town with only two wins out 11 matches, a dismal performance by the national team by all standards.

Questions have been raised at how the team was constituted, their preseason programme, fielding and even cohesiveness while on tour. This forgettable performance can be attributed to not only the above queries but some deep lying issues at Kenya Rugby Union.

For instance, did KRU provide the best possible environment for the team to perform in the opening two legs? Did the board appoint the best possible candidates to manage the boys in 2018/2019 season? What were the contingent measures put in place when strength and conditioning coach Geoffrey Kimani threw in the towel barely a month to the first tournament? Did the management try to get the best players available for coach Paul Murunga and his team to choose from? How about team manager’s position? Is Eric Ogweno the confirmed TM or he’ll be shunted aside once the board opens the envelope from “esteemed and ethical panellists”?

Too many questions. Very few answers. The team continues to register poor results, unabated.

Let’s try to unpack the above contentious issues one by one. It is no secret that KRU is broke and struggling financially and could not guarantee training allowances for the team ahead of Dubai Sevens. In fact the team that went to Tunisia for Africa Sevens and later played at Safari Sevens survived on bare minimum. Many of these boys are in college or some fresh out of high school and could not therefore afford that early morning commute to and from Ngong Road. The training schedule for most was erratic and inconsistent, a fact that meant that the coaches couldn’t have full house at every session.

KRU’s financial woes are self-inflicted. The rain began beating the rugby honchos about seven years ago when individuals of questionable character were elected onto the board. The said individuals began interfering with sponsors first hounding out Bamburi Cement thus killing the flagship franchise rugby in the region, Rugby Super Series.

They then took their insatiable greed to KRU's most prized asset, Safari Sevens, ripping it into pieces, devouring it to the marrow. Sponsors fled one by one and by 2017, we had nothing left.

The malaise finally reached the sevens team early this year when out of their own wisdom or lack of it decided to mask the sponsors logo in Paris Sevens. This action led to immediate cancellation of the sponsorship from Brand Kenya, consequently empty pockets for the team. The team is trying to redeem itself by playing with Brand Kenya’s logo at the moment to try and lure them back.

All these missteps by the union and playing unit points to one thing. Lack of formidable and decisive leadership at the top. Richard Omwela had a distinguished stint at the helm of KRU a few years ago and he left with his head held high. However, his second stint has been anything but remarkable.

He has cut an image of someone going through the motion, unbothered by the goings on both at the board level and in various national teams. He seems overwhelmed by his avaricious board. He either needs to stamp his authority and rein in errant members and restore dignity and sanity to the game or leave the seat to someone who can crack the whip.

Back to Kenya Sevens, it’s interesting to note that KRU thought it wise to fly Kevin Wambua, the team’s assistant coach, back home from Dubai and spend a few more hundreds of shillings to send top officials to Cape Town. The team therefore didn't have two key members of technical bench. An assistant coach and a strength and conditioning specialist. Does that even make sense?

It is not rocket science that a team’s performance is heavily dependent on the preseason. If a team is going to have crappy preparations, then expect mediocre results. And the person responsible for the team’s good conditioning is the S & C coach. Two months after Kimani walked out on the team, a replacement is yet to be named. Team’s preps was done by the assistant coach who is not a specialist. For how long will this continue?

Still on the issue of team’s management set up, interviews for team managers position were done and concluded. I want to believe that the “esteemed and ethical panel” presented the results to the board. Team manager play a very crucial role in a team’s set up. The union should either confirm if Ogweno will continue with his role or they announce the new man(or woman) for the job. This simple hesitations are having huge ramifications on the team’s preps.

I tend to believe that if we’ve had a substantive TM, Jeff Oluoch would not have missed Cape Town Sevens for “personal reasons.”

Senior players stayed away from the team on these two legs for various reasons. Collins Injera, Andrew Amonde, Nelson Oyoo and Samuel Oliech were in France for the failed 2019 Rugby World Cup qualification. Billy Odhiambo is injured, while Oscar Ouma continues his self imposed exile. Those are the prima facie reasons as to why these players are not in the set up.

Grapevine has it that the main reason these players are not enthusiastic about rejoining the team is the “pathetic” contracts offered to them by KRU. Those concerned should urgently reach out and either seek common grounds with these players or look for extra resources and improve these contract. We can’t afford to continue burying our heads in the grounds and hoping all will be well, or as they say ball mbele.

Anyway despite the poor performances by the team, a few positives stood out. Johnstone Olindi, Daniel Taabu and Vincent Onyalla were the stand out performers for the team in Cape Town. These rookies singlehandedly pulled Kenya from a 21-point deficit to within two points in their 31-33 loss to Argentina in Challenge Trophy semi finals. They shredded Zimbabweans in 13th place semi final before seeing off Wales 33-26 in the finals. Whatever happens, these boys are the future of Kenyan Sevens.

PS
Kenya Cup! Stanbic Mwamba continued their 10-year dominance over Nondies as they brought the high riding Red Lions back to earth. Mwamba registered their first victory of the season with a hard fought 13-12 win at Jamhuri Park.

In the other matches Impala Saracens continue living dangerously with a slim 22-19 win over an inspired Mean Machine. Kabras Sugar continue to cruise under the radar with an emphatic 62-13 win over Strathmore Leos. Who will stop the Sugar Millers?

This weekend’s highlight should be the Campus Derby as Blak Blad hosts Leos at Kenyatta University. This tie promises to be all fireworks as Leos continue to search for their first win of the season while Blad want to get one over another university side.

So who are you putting your money on this weekend?

As always, let’s continue the conversation on Twitter @kollonabiswa.