Edinburgh 7's Update - Kenya 21 New Zealand 26

New Zealand literally slowed the game to walking race and denied us possession. We really must improve our tackling. Try scorers Collins Injera, Gibson Weru and Brian Nyikuli. It's farewell from me for today.

Edinburgh 7's Update - Kenya 7 Wales 19

Our bane came to haunt us, our first up tackles and in a match as tight as this, that was it. Our try scorer Biko Adema.

Edinburgh 7's Update - Kenya 21 England 7

A complete washout this. Tries by Collins Injera, Biko Adema and Lavin Asego. Asego good with all the kicks. Still giving away possession cheaply on the kick offs.

Edinburgh 7's Update - Kenya 22 Scotland 17

A last second try by the captain Humphrey Kayange pulled this one off for us. Other try scorers Collins Injera and Victor Oduor.

I'm concerned that we're giving away possession too easily on our kick offs and not tackling decisively enough. Next up England.

Edinburgh 7's Update - Kenya 35 Canada 0

A walk in the park really. Speedster Collins Injera with four tries and Gibson Weru with one. Lavin Asego good with all the conversions. We were not really tested, yet made too many errors. Too casual in our approach perhaps, but a resounding win all the same.

Next up, Scotland.

Update. Scotland have beaten England 35 to 17. That really opens up the competition.

Condolences

The Kenya rugby fraternity would like to send condolences to the
family of the late Joseph Owino Otieno who tragically passed away
while playing rugby at the National Teachers Training Colleges
Championships in Migori.

The late Joseph died while representing his college Kaimosi Teachers
Training College in a match against Garissa at the Assar. Johanson
Primary School.

Kaimosi students and teachers were in shock and grief as they mourned
the first year student who was in very high spirits before the fatal
game. Rugby games were immediately called off at the championships
following the tragedy.

May you rest in peace Joseph as Kenya Rugby remembers your family at
this difficult moment.

IRB Sevens - Scotland Leg

The last leg of the circuit takes place at the home of Sevens Rugby, Edinburgh Scotland. Kenya lie 6th in the standings and it is likely we will finish in that position. We have more points than we have ever got and we are now hoping to hit the next level. We are in a tough pool comprising Scotland, England, Canada and ourselves and once more this can be billed as the pool of death. As always a good preview here.

My own expectations have not changed much from last week. A Semi final placing is good enough for me and we will have outdone ourselves, in reality. We are capable of beating the best in the world, but not consistently and that is our problem. We will play better than last week and we will qualify for the main cup competition. Then our mettle will be tested and that will be where push will become shove. I hope our technical are better prepared this time and will take every game as a final.

We will try to keep the updates coming on this site so keep watching. Twitter updates may also be available on the roll on the left hand side. Have a good rugby weekend.

Kenya and the Olympic Bid: A Case of Use It Then Lose It?

I wonder how the so called jet set operate.  Jumping in and out of planes and hotel rooms, able to pack at a moment's notice and keep all their stuff in order.  To me it's just a nightmare and I'm yet to gather all my things together and post what I intended to after my visit to Twickenham last weekend.  All of a sudden my camera won't download, my laptop is damn slow and a myriad of other problems.  So for today I will evaluate what the bid to turn rugby into an Olympic sport means for us.

Kayange and Lapasset - Courtesy Associated Press

This week Kenya 7's Captain Humphrey Kayange was part of a high powered forum that included IRB Chief Executive Mike Miller, IRB President Bernard Lapasset and captain of the Australian Ladies' team Cheryl Soon that was rehearsing for the pitch it will make to the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne, Switzerland mid next month.  Whilst I am completely in favour of Rugby becoming an Olympic Sport and will support the bid in whatever small way I can, the history of the Olympic Games gives me some doubts.

Without extolling all the virtues and benefits of Rugby becoming an Olympic sport as these are a pound aplenty everywhere you look, I will query the use Kayange and by extension Kenya as part of this bid.  True, we are every reason Rugby should be an Olympic sport.  True we espouse all the Olympic ideals as a country and as a sport.  And true, we stand to benefit greatly should Rugby become an Olympic sport.  But I still have my doubts as to why us?

If you analyse Soon's statements and what she will take to the bid, the ultimate aim of any sportsman is to win an Olympic gold medal!  True?  Methinks so.  So then, what is my problem?  If Rugby were to become an Olympic sport and the aim of every sportsman in the world is to win an Olympic gold, does that then mean that the worlds best rugby players will now go to the Olympics?  Before anyone jumps on me, look at tennis, look what happened to basketball (remember the dream team and more recently Kobe at the Beijing games), there is a distinct possibility of this.  And with the added pride of that Olympic gold, won't star athletes want that chance and that honour to achieve that gold?  Were that to happen, would Kenya then stand a chance of winning that gold?  Qualifying in Africa should not be a problem for us, but once at the games, the odds will be greatly stacked against us.  Look what Wales did to win the World Cup 7's!  They can hardly get to the semi finals of any event right now!  So what does that mean for us, as the champions behind the bid.  As the shining example that anyone can play the game.  As the living proof that anyone can beat even the World Champions.  That we have the most passionate fans in the game (oh, that's supposed to be my next post).  And proof that you really don't need much more than heart to play good rugby. 

What will happen next is the introduction of rules, like Soccer at the Olympics.  But will the same rules work across board.  For example, maximum number of 15's caps?  Maximum age for players?  No professionals allowed?  3 overage/professional/experienced players only per side?  And I just wonder, will we have really gained?

As I posited earlier, why us?  The IRB and the big rugby nations will never do anything that benefits the smaller nations or others.  It is clear, the developing rugby nations get much less funding than the already developed ones, that do not need it.  Is this a ploy to get even more funding?  Or a tactic to now allocate more funding to the developing nations?  By our stature as a top sevens nations, are we now a developed nation, privy to more IRB funding?  By the IRB letting go of the money spinning 7's World Cup, will they now need an alternative source of funding, or will we developing nations suffer from reduced funding?  I seem to get as many questions as I have answers for this, the more I think about it.   Maybe all will become clearer as time goes, but I keep the faith.

Oh, you can vote for Rugby to become an Olympic Sport at www.olympic-rugby.org.

  I've already voted.

IRB Edinburgh 7's : The Grand Finale

My mama and I are on our way to Nakuru for the ten asides. Leaving
early to head to Nyamakima to catch a mat was not my idea when we
could have simply gone with the campus transport. Why we have to go
see her sis at Egerton instead of her joining us in Naks beats me.
Anyway at least we shall get to book a room at Carnation Hotel before
other campo guys arrive.

Kenya play the last IRB 7's of the season looking to sign off in
style. The pool they are in is deadly - England, Scotland, Canada and
Kenya. By virtue of our form and status this season we should make it
to the last 8 with ease. But rugby is a funny game sometimes. Asego
hopefully should recover to keep us going till the end.

Good luck Kenya and I hope there will be a screen showing the games at
the ground. As for Mean Machine the team is reeling with the fact that
many comrades have taken off to Nondies leaving a very young squad.
When Ayimba gets back he surely has plenty of work to do.

Go Kenya Go Kenya. Go Machine go. Bobobobo.

See you in Naks.

Support the Kenya 7's Team

My good deed for the day. Not one to cast aspersions on anyone, but I really hope they mean what they say.

28th May 2009



Hey all you Rugby Fans and Friends of Kenya!!

Please spread the word far and wide about the watching events this weekend. The Kenya Seven's Team are playing for our country in Edingurgh and while they do so we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to:

1. Watch brilliant rugby
2. Watch Kenya play
3. SUPPORT YOUR TEAM!!

Just to highlight to you all that a percentage of every beverage you consume during the official match hours will be donated to the player kitty! The kitty will be distributed equally to the Kenya Seven's squad!

Support your Country, Support your team!

Come to K1, Parklands this Saturday and Sunday (30th/31st May) and join all the friends of rugby in cheering the Kenya Seven's team!!

Fixtures
Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens Festival May 30-31 2009

South Africa v France (11.35), New Zealand v USA (11.57), Argentina v Wales (12.09), Samoa v Georgia (12.41), Fiji v Portugal (13.03),
Australia v Spain (13.25), Kenya v Canada (13.47), England v Scotland (14.09), South Africa v USA (15.01), New Zealand v France (15.23),
Argentina v Georgia (15.45), Samoa v Wales (16.07), Fiji v Spain (16.29), Australia v Portugal (16.51), Kenya v Scotland (17.13),
England v Canada (17.35), France v USA (17.57), Portugal v Spain (18.19), Wales v Georgia (18.41), South Africa v New Zealand (19.28),
Kenya v England (19.50), Argentina v Samoa (20.12), Fiji v Australia (20.34), Canada v Scotland (20.56).

Day Two
Bowl quarter finals: A3 v B4 (12.05), D3 v C4 (12.27), C3 v D4 (12.49), B3 v A4 (13.11).
Cup quarter final: A1 v B2 (13.33), D1 v C2 (13.55), C1 v D2 (14.17),
B1 v A2 (14.39).

Released by KRFU Media & Communications

Weekly Ramble

Am completely at crossroads. l don't know whether to sing, laugh, cry or all of them. The major announcement made yesterday has got me thinking deep and far. To what end do we play this game, or to what end do we administer it. And for some of us, to what end do we feel for it?

What am I going on about? The whole media is abuzz with the huge Ksh. 26M sponsorship that EABL, through Tusker, have doled out for this year's Tusker Safari Sevens. And to cap it all, they KRFU themselves state it will go a long way to realising the Ksh. 50M budget for the event. A previous post elicited some fire in that KRFU is only a Ksh 60M organisation, unless some figures are hidden somewhere and I wondered, really wondered.

Yes, the Safari Sevens is a great event. Yes, it gives rugby the much publicity and exposure, and questionably has improved the quality of our sevens players. I state the last one with a question as there is now no prize for the winner of the local sevens circuit. But I digress, as usual.

For the clubs, who spend their time and money recruiting players, getting them fit, teaching them the game and finally releasing them for national duty, what do they get from all this involvement? For the coaches, who slave, most times for no pay, to get players fit, coach them, and make them ready for national duty, what do they get from all this involvement? For the players, who literally put life and limb on the line for the game, from school, to club to national level, what do they get from their involvement in the game? Then contrast this with the business men and women, the painters,the security providers, the water providers, the lunch providers, the PA providers, the entertainment providers and lastly the drinks providers, what are they getting out of their timely and selective involvement in the game? And I wonder, why do we even bother? If the common player does not gain (other than pretending to volunteer to help out so as to get free tickets, and even that I have an issue with) and ALL the clubs do not gain (save for Impala and Harlequins) then really, why are we in this? And for only 3 days in the year, are we really developing/helping rugby in Kenya by holding such events? But that is me, I need to be enlightened.

In the week before the Safari Sevens, I will post what people want to hear about the event, but for now, I wonder!!

Breaking News : KRFU Vice-Chairman sacked amid corruption allegations

Fred Abednego Odhiambo has been shown the boot as PostMaster-General/Managing Director of Postal Corporation of Kenya. Popularly known as 'Nigga' , the KRFU Vice-Chairman has been shown the door by the Minister Sam Poghisio over bouncing cheques issued to the organisation resulting in missing millions.

The incident is a major blot in the career of the care-free and sometimes seemingly uninterested second in command of Kenya Rugby who was more known for his non-appearances at major rugby functions including KRFU Board meetings. A lifist to the hilt Nigga was more comfortable in places such as Dream Village, Kosewe's, Dolche, Octopussy, Mon Ami and Club Africa than in routine boring meetings be it at Posta or KRFU.

During the launch of PostaPay in the USA, Nigga toured the with comedian Walter Mongare a.k.a 'Nyambane' more often than not carrying Nyambane's briefcase thereby effectively reducing himself to being a spannerboy.

Rugby enthusiasts will be keen to know whether the 2009 Grand Slam will take place this year. The Kshs 1 million sponsorship given to the KRFU by Posta was the best deal they ever secured. Spending a paltry 300,000 the rest was for the board led by long-time school-mate and partner Frank Sabwa (KRFU Secretary-General) to spend in whatever way the pleased. Too good a deal it was. It was payback time for the boys.

Whether Nigga will also step aside from the KRFU Board remains to be seen but with him having more time on his hands in between courtrooms, this may be the time for him to rediscover his passion for the game.

Controversy has never been too from Nigga and fellow friend Sabwa. Right from their days at Lenana to Mean Machine (remember the infamous Dubai Tour) to Barclays and now right in the heart of the KRFU. Nigga was never interested in the KRFU post but was pushed by Sabwa to contest it and actually won. Sabwa who has ambitions of taking over from Richard Omwela needed to have Nigga on the board as part of his grand march (or grand ruck?)

Within KRFU two figures watching Nigga's tribulations with glee are Omwela and Aggey Chabeda. Omwela would love to see his No.2 step aside so that he could either bring in Peter Nduati or fellow advocate Andrew Msangi back on the board and groom them comfortably as his succeessors. Thereafter he can launch his bid for the African Rugby Federation presidency. Within the board he has strong support from David Lukalo, William Ombisi and Ian Moturi but views the Mean Machine bloc of directors with great suspicion.

Chabeda likewise would be happy to make a return on the board and hence project himself as the only natural successor to Richard Omwela as Chairman. He alone feels that none of the other board members have the experince and networks he has established over the years since he was Impala RFC Chairman.

A wily operator, he has already put many of his operatives in various rugby organs of the KRFU and has forged extremely close links with Harlequins, Impala and the Universities. Mwamba hold him in suspicion especially after he loudly voiced his opposition to Michael Mwangi Muthee's (MMM) candidature for the chairmanship early in the year. His key pointman is General Manager Auka Gecheo with whom they have several joint ventures together.

Sabwa on his part has slowly been entrenching himself within the grassroots of the game. His support bloc is strenthened by Fred Ollows, Nigga, Anampiu, Mutai, the Referees Association, Schools, upcountry clubs and maybe Mwamba (though he opted to vote against Mwangi for strategic reasons).

Interesting times ahead for Kenya Rugby and with the Safari Sevens knocking next month, the various factions will be working hard to excercise control of the event and the millions that the sucess of the Kenya 7's team will bring with it. The 2009 event promises to be its most profitable to date.

As for Nigga, these must be troubling times that require him to display deft footwork off the pitch as he used to do on the pitch. The time to remove his dancing shoes is now and play ball with both feet and hands.

Fred Abednego Odhiambo - brief CV:

CURRICULUM VITAE

Name: Fred Abednego Odhiambo

Executive Summary:

I am a Kenyan citizen and a graduate from the University Of Nairobi where I obtained a Bachelor of Commerce(Marketing option) honors degree in 1987.

I am an excellent marketing professional with a brilliant track record spanning over 15 years. I am capable of converting any customer proposition into practical solutions. During my tenor at Standard Chartered, Barclays Bank and Postal Corporation of Kenya, I launched lots of products and participated in major customer service initiatives.

Educational and Professional Background:

Bachelor of Commerce(Marketing option) honors degree, University Of Nairobi 1987
Attended the National Youth Service, pre-university training program 1984
Attended a stress management, leadership and decision making training with Outward Bound Kenya 1993

Attended an Effective Project Management Course 1994

Attended a Microsoft Office training 1996

Attended Achieving Market Leadership training 2001

Attended Achieving Results Through People training 2002

Attended a Management Skills Development training 2002

Attended a Performance Development course 2002

Job History:

2006 t0 2009: Postmaster-General/Managing Director – Postal Corporation of Kenya

Revived moribound organisation to effective money transfer business despited stiff competition from M-Pesa and Moneygram. Created more letter delivery outlets within the republic. Turned a loss into a profit in 3 year span.

1999 to 2006: Head of Marketing-Barclays Bank

Key Responsibility
Provide strategic direction and manage the implementation of high quality, cost effective marketing communications.

Achievements To date:
Launched” La Riba “Current Account, the first Sharia compliant banking solution to Muslim customers.
Launched Vehicle Asset Finance product for Small and Medium Enterprises(SMEs)
Launched a Visa Electron Card to replace the existing ATM card.
Spearheaded the launch of the first Mortgage product within the commercial banking sector and organized a mortgage sales promotion which raised Kshs150m in new loans in 2 months.
Launched Cheque Mate, a product for Corporate customers
Launched “Resolve”, a customer service initiative which captures and analyses service issues and delivers Management Information necessary for service resolutions.
Launched the first major sales promotion in Barclays, called the Barclays Bonanza. The promotion raised Kshs600m in new savings deposits in 3 months.
Revolutionized the marketing of personal lending products in the financial sector and raised the Barclayloan book from Kshs500m to Kshs2b in 2000.
Launched a new set of products for personal customers eg Bank Account, Instant Savings, High Rate Savings, High Value Current Account and High Interest Bonus Savings accounts.
Designed and implemented the Barclayloan Bumper Harvest, sales promotion. The promotion raised Kshs300m in new Barclayloan sales and 641 new Prestige customers in 3 months.
Participated in the most successful Charity Walk in Kenya which raised Kshs20m in support of the Government’s free primary education programme. Funds used to support 15 Primary schools countrywide. This initiative won the highly commended award at the 2004 African Investment Award ceremony in Dakar, Senegal. In 2005, the same initiative won the overall African Investor Award for its role in supporting the delivery of millennium goals.

1998-1999: Regional Marketing Manager-Standard Chartered Bank
Set up successful marketing departments in Uganda and Tanzania.
Launched a major sales promotion in Uganda. The campaign raised UGS4b or GBP2m in new savings deposits in 3 months
As a project manager, set up new branches in Dar-es-salaam, Mwanza, Arusha and Moshi
Introduced Direct Marketing in Uganda and Tanzania eg Direct Mail, Tele-banking and Direct selling.

1994-1997: Product Development Manager-Standard Chartered Bank
Launched the Supersave Account for personal high value customers
Launched Electron Debit card.
Launched the first major sales promotion in the Banking Industry in Kenya with a Mercedes Benz as the top prize. Raised Kshs900m in new savings deposits in 3 months.

1990-1994: Marketing Manager’s Assistant-Barclays Bank
Participated in the launch of Barclaycard Visa.
Participated in the re-profiling of savings account into Barclaysave and Optimum Savings accounts

1988-1990: Management Trainee-Barclays Bank
Had a rigorous on the job-training in all the departments of the Bank
Attended training on Cash, Advances, Bills, Current, Savings Accounts and other departments of the Bank.

Extra Curricular:

Vice Chairman, Kenya Rugby Football Union
Chairman Parents Sports Committee, Strathmore School.
Director, Kenya Breast Cancer Association
Member BOG, Lenana School
Member BOG, Ramba Secondary School
Member BOG, Kitambo Secondary School

Member Rarieda Professional Group

Impala Referee's Board (Pun Intended)

This is just a concern on our refereeing standards and in particular reference to the area of Impartiality/Objectivity.
The floodlit tournament was a perfect example of the need for impartial refereeing.Some matches were covertly played and won by the referees.

I will not go into the specific calls made by any particular referee. But will make my comments in general.
There has been a recent drive by the referee’s society aimed at recruiting new members from clubs. This is indeed a step in the right direction that will increase the pool in numbers and expertise.

However a greater number of club loyalists and fanatics will eventually filter through into the refereeing pool. This will of course pose a great threat to the objectivity of officiating. There are a great number of reasons and motivations to get into refereeing. Some might be noble and some damn right evil. There is never a universal gauge of ones intentions by which they may be judged and cast out. Club agenda and machinations may be covertly pushed and implemented by match officials in key matches especially when there is a lot at stake be it money, club pride/bragging rights.

The sad thing is that we all know what is happening and that when cornered the manipulations can always be explained out as errors of judgment or simply as “a bad day in the office” A biased official can hide behind the awarding of 50-50 decisions to one team. You just know he won the game for his club, but he did it with intelligence.
Long gone are the days of blatant and unintelligent biased officiating from the likes of Steve Clarke and Mike Riley. The bias is however on unprecedented levels but officials more intelligent in how they go about it.

So should we stop club loyalists from getting into refereeing? Hell no. We might end up with no candidates due to elimination of all applicants on this basis. Also how can we apply this to new entrants only when the current stock are more rabid fanatics and double up as club strategists?

What we need are simple tools to reduce (elimination is a pipe dream) the problem.
Referees should not be appointed to officiate matches involving their ‘Clubs’ and also in pools in tournaments or leagues where the outcome of a match will determine “their clubs” standing or likely opponent thereof.
This is the simplest remedy to a problem that will eventually kill our game. Uganda has had the same problem and it culminated in match officials being seriously beaten up on the pitch by players, repercussions of which are threatening to tear apart their chances of raising a competitive side against Tunisia. We are headed in the same direction and I foresee a more devastating outcome. The expectation of a bust up involving players and fans is this days arising in every game.

SANZAR wrongly gauged the impartiality / objectivity of match officials and allowed match officials from a clubs home country to officiate in their matches in these years Super 14. The complaints on refereeing decisions and appeals lodged are at an unprecedented level.

With all our problems we do not need this niggling malaise whose remedy is oh so simple.

Impala Floodlit Final

Today I'll be lazy. Quite a good write-up here. Too much to do in so little time. But we'll manage. Quite a final I must say and well worth the money. Both teams came to win and as predicted, the better adapter to the situations took the crown. A sign of things to come? Only time will tell. Maybe an early sneak preview. To Impala a well organised tournament and a pleasure to attend/watch. We look forward to next year.

This weekend the Great Rift Ten-a-Side tournament before the Kenya Cup begins.

London IRB Sevens

Not quite what we expected or wanted. However quite a lot of positives from the weekend. Biggest positive, we only lost one match. Only England can claim the same from the two days. Other positives came from a negative actually. Early injury to Lavin meant that both Biko and Ashioya got more game time. Ashioya's presence on the pitch created an alternative and I think as a result even Collo was more free, hence his rubbishing of my earlier prediction. Horace also got more game time and that can only help us grow. Other positive, the reality hit us. Everyone wants to win these trophies, as much as if not more than us. Hence we must be prepared from the word go to give 100%. And remember, to win the trophy you must beat even the best. That's why that game against Fiji was so crucial.

I think we struggled quite a bit and the only free flowing game was against the US. Other teams now take us seriously and they now treat us differently. They will be out to show us down and must be prepared for this. And our technical team should stop reading the press and get down with the work. This coming weekend will be Edinburgh and we expect seriousness from the get go. Kazi kwako Benja.

IRB London 7's : Bittersweet victory at Twickenham

A weekend of high drama. Rugby fanatics we shouted ourselves hoarse.
My mama and I spent the weekend at K1 and it was worth it. Exams over
there was no stress.

Kenya won the bowl with a fine win over Wales who carry the tag of
World Champions. The 12 - 7 victory was doubly sweet as it compensated
for our cruel elimination from the main cup. An earlier 17-10 win over
Samoa showed our class as a top rugby 7's nation. The 2 IRB points we
earned was really much less than what we actually deserved.

Critically looking at ourselves we were barely scraping through games.
The only really convincing victory was the USA game. The rest were
cliff-hanger victories while the Fiji loss exposed our technical teams
panic, indecesion, naivety and top level inexperience.

The loss of Asego early shook the team and Khayanges opting to
continue playing despite injury was braveheart stuff. Injera was on
top of his game while Adema played much better though he really needs
to improve his defence. It was good to see Horace get good game time
while the rest of the boys did their bit. Nyambu needs to be taught
more rugby or be dropped. He is erratic and costs the team too many
penalties.

The only worrying question I ask with alarm and concern is where was
Gibson Kahuthia Weru during the two days? The boy has completely
disappeared from the radar while on the pitch. Is he the first sign
of burn-out or is he carrying an injury we all need to know about?

Nonetheless the Virgin boys won the hearts of many and were definitely
the most popular team at Twickenham.

Go Ayimba and your boys. Move over to Edinburge and sign out in style.
Bring the Okombe home. We shall be watching the Virgins from Nakuru as
my campus half and I enjoy the long weekend at the ten-a-side.

Good luck Kenya Rugby 7's.

Impala Floodlit Results

Impala 31 KCB 14

London 7's Update - Kenya 5 Fiji 26

Totally failed to click and they had our number. Tall took a knock that we need to watch. We play in the bowl tomorrow.

London 7's Update - Kenya 33 USA 0

A much more disciplined performance with more control and better defence. Next Fiji.

London 7's Update - Kenya 17, Scotland 12

We really pulled the fat out of the fire with this one.  A messy first half full of errors and a seeming lack of drive kept us at 0-12 down at half time.  Kayange led from the front as captain with two crucial tries, one after the final buzzer had gone.  Lavin limped off during the game and we wait to see if he will take further part in this game.

Areas of concern.  Our kick off reception is not committed.  We seem to be lacking ideas offensively.  We are not tackling.  Next game against the USA. 

Weekend Games

Quite a full weekend this. The Orange Virgins are in London for the 7th leg of the IRB series whilst the Impala Floodlit is showcasing the finalists.

The IRB Sevens. You can get pre-tournament reviews here. My thoughts? We are all pregnant with expectation. Hoping hope against hope that we win one leg and the Collo emerges the top try scorer. Methinks different. I know we are fitter than ever, faster than ever and better than ever. However we must remember our good run and what it entailed. This is the longest the team have not been together this year. Remember, we are amateur and the only time we get together is when we travel. That is the only time our training in uninterrupted and everyone is available for all training sessions. Ever the pessimist, I feel a semi final appearance will be more than enough for me. For sure our one-good-game-at-a-time illness will be back. AS for Collo emerging top try scorer, YES he will. But I think 10 tries is a tall order. I'll give him 5 for both legs. Otherwise I wish the boys well and behind them all the way.

The Impala Floodlit Tournament. Difficult to call this one. The form teams are in the final, so I must asses what I see as their current form. For me KCB are not offering anything new. They play the same game they have played for the last four years and the reappointment of Tank as coach seems to imply that they are most comfortable doing that. The key difference is a huge chunk of the team has changed. I think they played the way they did due to the players they had and are trying to replicate it with different players. Wise - possible, but they need to adapt to what is in front of them. And their inability to adapt is what makes them predictable. For Impala, I don't know if they are rediscovering their confidence of yore. That they have struggled in recent years is clear to all and that they are trying to find a way to play is also clear. However, last weekend's game was a fine display of all round rugby. I expect the same of them and they are better equipped to adapt to the play as it occurs. A tough game it will be and for sure it will be close. The match will only be decided in the final stages and this possibly by how the replacements are used. In this regard I give the game to Impala, by ten points.

Do have a great rugby weekend. The Super 14 matches are also on, as well as the England vs. Barbarians match. There are no less than 4 Floodlit after parties I've counted so enjoy the drink, before the Alcohol ban takes effect..lol.

Down Memory Lane and Lessons for Kenya Rugby today

Not surprisingly after thoroughly perusing the many interesting articles and responses one has no doubt that there are indeed many keen rugby enthusiasts who really do have the Kenyan rugby game at heart. Our own definition what IRB stands for in Kenyan terms is indeed quite amusing. It gives me food for thought which I will leave to discuss another day in the not so distant future. I leave you then to digest the written below.

DOWN MEMORY LANE - KENYAN RUGBY

Kenya Rugby 7’s amazing run in the 2008/9 IRB Sevens Series as well as the semi-final placing in the IRB Rugby World Cup 2009 deserves a huge clap from not only the rugby fraternity but from the whole Kenyan nation at home and abroad. Whom have we not conquered? The truth is we have conquered all and now we want the gold that comes with the glory.

One must not forget that 7’s is an off-spring of the mother game and the KRFU must really wake up from their slumber and realise that real solid success will come with establishing a competitive and world class Kenya rugby 15’s national side. And this must be accompanied by a total revamp of the local game. More indigenous clubs like Mwamba, Nakuru, Mombasa and Kisumu must be established and given full financial and organisational support from the KRFU. This is when we shall realise absolute growth and real rugby success in the game of Rugby Union. Problem is they’ve all flown to London on free Virgin tickets to sit and get inebriated at Twickenham while Kenya 7’s play their game.

Those of my generation cannot understand and will unashamedly shed a tear as the improbable reality dawns upon us that Kenya 15’s barely has enough gas to thrash Uganda. How that happens is unimaginable considering there was no rugby in the 70’s per se in Uganda and when we ran on the ground and played as Miro RFC ( "Miro" is colloquial for black), the game of rugby was as good as dead in Uganda. How we became recent whipping boys of the so-called ‘Africa Champions’ Uganda is an absolute shame and the blame squarely lies with the KRFU (these days referred to as ‘Impala Rugby Business’ IRB) for lack of foresight as well as being led by the current bunch of neophytes in office.

I hope to be proved wrong during this years Mt. Elgon Cup competition between Kenya XV and Uganda XV. Tunji’s (Tank’s) comment that he aims to beat Uganda away and at home are brave words reminiscent of the young warrior he was when first went to Alliance and thereafter at Kenyatta University College where donned the shirt of Blak Blad and then finally at Mwamba (Once more Mwamba, Once more one, once more Mwamba, lets have another one). A fine soccer player he was. Their loss was rugby’s gain.

For many years now, rugby in Kenya has been considered a bourgeois sport, and the following has remained limited though interest is in the rise as media play a bigger part. The game was started in Kenya by the British during the pre independence period and was restricted to whites only. Standards in those days were extremely high given that the respected British Lions toured and played Kenya. There are pictures to that effect at the RFUEA grounds and Nondiescripts when they were at Parklands. Africans (Miros) got the first opportunity to learn and play rugby soon after Uhuru in 1963 with the lowering of the Union Jack, and soon after the de-colonising of the education system.

Even then the game of rugby was limited to elite schools that had previously admitted mzungus (whites) only such as the Duke of York (today's Lenana School with their famous Maroon strip), and the Prince of Wales (today's Nairobi School now famously known as Patch). The first generation of Miros to play rugby included the late Chris Onsotti, John Gichinga, Dennis Awori, George Kariuki (former Chairman of the Kenya Rugby Football Union, K.R.F.U. and now R.F.U.E.A. Chairman), Ambrose Otieno, Ismael Ramadhan, Leslie George, Maxwell Walumbe, John Maina, Lewis Kimani, Steve Robi, Matthias Keah, Kibe and Bill Okwirry among others. This generation of African players must be credited with preparing the crucial groundwork for the second generation of African players to blossom further. Many of these were the genesis of Miro RFC.

The legendary second generation of Africans to play rugby is credited with establishing Kenya as a reputable rugby playing nation in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s. The radicalism and agitation for change that characterised Kenya in the 1970s extended to rugby, with proponents calling for greater African participation in the game both at playing and administration levels. Who can forget the Anti-Assassins, Blackheath, Penguins, Bedford, Royal Navy, Metropolitan Police and Pontypool games against Kenya XV? The tests against Zimbabwe were high tension games considering anti-African refereeing stance of then by Tom Thorpe, Dave Jackson, John Lloyd, Jim Norris, Mark Riley and latterly Steve Clarke. The late Kevin O’Byrne tried to be different at times but occasionally he did get caught up in the wave. The period witnessed an explosive renaissance of Kenyan rugby.

The second generation partly comprised Jackson "Jacko" Omaido, his brother Walter Omaido, Tom Oketch, Alunga Omolo, Absalom ‘Bimbo’ Mutere, Peter Akatsa, Jimmy ‘Campese’ Owino, Frank Ngaruiya, Stan Ramogo, Max Muniafu, George Mng’ong’o, Michael "Tank" Otieno, Evans Vitisia, Tramp Raposo, Godfrey "Chief" Edebe, Peter Belsoi, Murengi Kingatwa, George Ojok, Arthur Kibisu, Paul Ngoga, John Muhato, Walter Nyandiko, Richard Njoba, Wycliff Mukulu, John Akatsa, Tim Githuku, Ken Sagala, Dave Oluoch-Olunya, Emmanuel Lubembe, Job Oduor, Dave Awimbo and his brother, Danny Kimoro, Andrew Kimwele, William Asiko, Jim Ayoki, Gishinga Njoroge, Frank Ojiambo, Dave Mshila, Ted Kabetu, Jack Ogal, Wang Yu, George Kabeberi, Sylvester Ashioya and JJ Masiga (better known for his exploits as a Kenya soccer international). It was the second generation (and some of the first) that was behind the formation of the University of Nairobi's Mean Machine R.F.C. in 1977, Kenyatta University's Black Blad R.F.C. and Kenya’s truly first African club Mwamba RFC.

The intensity and drive of the young men that formed Mean Machine, is manifest by the fact that Machine won the prestigious Kenya Cup in it's year of inception. This was a sterling achievement at a time when rugby was still dominated by European-oriented clubs such as Kenya Harlequins, Nondescripts, Impala and West Kenya Oribis. It was a most gratifying and inspirational accomplishment in real and symbolic terms, personifying the firm foundation that had been laid for Africans playing rugby in Kenya.

Another very notable accomplishment for the sport in the 1970s was that of Jackson "Jacko" Omaido in 1975 when he was selected to represent the East African Tuskers for a tour to Zambia. The now defunct Tuskers comprised players from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, and were indeed our version of the British Lions. Jacko was then a teenage school boy at Lenana School doing his form five, which made the accomplishment all the more magnificent, and is something that has not been accomplished again to date. (The Tuskers are now a distant memory and many of today’s generation have no idea they existed). Jacko would move on to play for Machine, Harlequins and Kenya XV and a host of other select sides such as Watembezi Pacesetters, Scorpions and Chairman's XV. Eliakim Jackson Omaido is indeed the best back that Kenya has produced so far. His legend spread far and wide such that Metropolitan Police of the U.K. had prior knowledge of him when they toured Kenya in 1980.

I watched Jacko play till the late 80s towards the end of his career and was indeed every bit impressed. I asked to be introduced to him in 1977 and could not hide my admiration. It was also during Jacko's time that the now defunct Miro R.F.C. was formed to cater for budding African players.

On graduation, many ex-Machine players, and ex-Black Blad players, unwilling to play for what were perceived as white clubs and still teeming with radicalism, formed Mwamba R.F.C. which like Machine in earlier years, steam-rolled the Kenyan rugby scene. Mwamba (which means rock in Kiswahili), carried on with the crusade to enlist a greater African share in Kenyan rugby. One particularly memorable season was the 1983 season when the Tom Oketch led Mwamba R.F.C. vanquished all clubs on the Kenyan scene including the dreaded Nondescripts R.F.C. and the equally dreaded Kenya Harlequins. Mwamba were very instrumental in instilling a deep sense of pride in those who related to their accomplishments. Other notables in the triumphant Mwamba side of 1983 included Jimmy Owino, Elijah Mureithi, Martin "Superman" Mwituria, John Akatsa, Peter Belsoi, Buba Muimi and Pritt Nyandatt.

I occasionally meet Tom Oketch, who now runs his own Quantity Survey firm and is also a devout church elder, on the streets of Nairobi and greet him with alot of admiration. He always has a puzzled, curious look on his face, unaware that it is an admiration that goes back over 20 years. It is true that heroes never die. Tom Okech is one the most brilliant rugby minds ever to have played the game. Standards of rugby in Kenya were much higher in those days. When the Watembezi Pacesetters attended the Dubai Sevens in 1983, there were some New Zealand All Black trialists who made remarks of the respect they had for Kenyan rugby.

The third generation of rugby players arrived on the scene in the late 1980s / early 1990s as the likes of Jacko were waning. This partly comprised the legendary Edward Rombo, Gordon Anampiu, John Ohaga, Dan Ouma. Peter Odhiambo, Edwin Obuya, Tim Ondeng, Arafat Aswani, Joseph Muganda, Duncan "Yakas" Kioni, George Adul, Henry Miheso, Oliver Khabure, Dan Mugo, Riiba Wanjohi, Josh Ouma, Andy Mwenesi, Bill Githinji, Ken Obimbo, Martin Ndeda, John Kiwinda, Oliver Onyango, David Mwashumbe, Eric Kibe and JC Wakhu and many others signaling the African domination of the game. Even at this later stages the Black vs. White rivalry for the domination of Kenyan rugby persisted with a very white Nondescripts marshaled by the Evans bothers (Mike, Dave and Clive), Miller brothers providing the last bastion of resistance for Mzungu rugby in Kenya. Nondescripts domination of the local league was under severe threat from Mwamba, Mean Machine and Kenya Harlequins. Barclays, KCB and Stanchart were the new teams that emerged in the 90’s and they provided another breed of raw African players most of whom had never played rugby in school and were therefore late developers who rapidly converted thoroughly to rugby. Bramwell Mwololo was an excellent example. Sadly only KCB rugby team have survived as the rest folded due to reasons unknown. Incidentally KCB is a wholly owned Kenyan bank while the other two are foreign owned.

Edward Rombo's accomplishments were however the most outstanding. (One could say that after Jacko, he could lay a strong claim to be the next best player in Kenya’s rugby history.) For one, Rombo led Mean Machine to two successive Kenya Cup titles in 1989 and 1990. Rombo was a class player who dazzled many a person with his brilliant back play. He had speed, mesmerizing side steps, was absolutely daring, and had an ability to quickly detect weaknesses in opponents and fully capitalize on them. I remember one such display at the Harlequins Easter Blackrock Rugby Festival for clubs in 1988, when Rombo was playing for Machine. Stuart Melville of the U.K. was touring Kenya at the time and after their game with Machine, members of their contingent kept asking to meet "Rambo" (It was the 1980s and Sylvester Stallone's action sequels "Rambo" were a big hit).

Rombo also had a lip and is Kenya rugby's equivalent of boxing legend, Muhammad Ali. He taunted and disarmed opponents with memorable phrases. All this caught the attention of selectors at the Singapore Cricket Club Sevens and led to Rombo being drafted into U.K. rugby league side, Leeds R.F.C. for a professional career in 1991. Then Nation correspondent Charles Ouko acted as Rombo’s agent and was very instrumental in ensuring the deal went through. (Sadly Ouko did not have much further success in this field as other attempts fizzled out the most recent one being Dennis Mwanja.)

Rombo further secured a scholarship to study Law at the prestigious Leeds University. Rombo's grand achievement wrote an entirely new and historical chapter in the history of Kenyan rugby. While at Leeds R.F.C., Rombo played and excelled alongside the world's best, such as former All Black full back, John Gallagher. Rombo's achievement thus speaks volumes for itself and he indeed did Kenya proud. He certainly did not have access to the same facilities that the All Blacks did, but he nonetheless reached the top.

Regrettably however, younger generations of rugby players have not measured up to or surpassed Jacko's and Rombo's accomplishments. The fourth generation of Kenyan rugby players did not hit the peaks as the earlier generations. It is a generation that is no less brilliant than the previous generations, but is one that did not blossom as much. The closest that this generation has come to a major break was in 1996 after the inaugural Safari Sevens tournament, when Sidney ‘Black Rose’ Obonyo was drafted to play professional rugby in the United Kingdom. Sidney was named man of the tournament after a dazzling display of running rugby. The deal however fell through and the reasons have never quite been made public.

Sammy Khakame also deserves credit for a consistently brilliant display throughout his career in high school Lenana, Machine, Kenya Harlequins and with Kenya. Indeed Sammy Khakame, Absalom Mutere, Steve Wesonga and David Evans are among the best fly half’s that Kenya has produced.

The Mzungus have also made a most worthy contribution to Kenyan rugby and as mentioned above, it is they that laid the foundation. Players of note (though this may not be totally inclusive) are greats like Roger Bertram, Andy Price, Johnny Yakas, Marco Brighetti, Neil McKenzie and the legendary Evans family of Rod, David, Mike and Clive. Rod Evans was an outstanding eighth man for Nondescripts R.F.C. and Kenya, and was also once Kenya coach. David Evans was an excellent kicker. Teams dreaded conceding penalties anywhere on the pitch because Dave would either venture deep into your half with fabulous place kicks for touch, or kick over three pointers, which he rarely missed. Nondescripts won many a game by virtue of Dave's left boot. Dave could also sell dummies, something I never quite understood myself when I watched him play in the 1980s and early 1990s. There was something mythical about his dummies.

Control of the game in Kenya is firmly in the hands of a few (Omwela and the IRB) and there is a reluctance to widen the expanse of the game, because this could very well result in a relinquishing of power by those in control. Economic interests have therefore hampered growth of the sport in Kenya. Even the structure that existed in established rugby playing schools has largely collapsed. In the days that I joined high school, there existed different developmental and participatory levels. The form one level of participation was referred to as "baby colts". The form two level of participation was referred to as "junior colts". The form three level of participation was referred to as "middle colts" and the form four level of participation was referred to as "senior colts". Form fives played in the school's second fifteen side, while form sixes played in the school's first fifteen side. Exceptional individuals like Jacko and Rombo were already playing for their first team's while in form three. It is regrettable that no similar structures are in place nowadays.

Rugby is a useful sport for this country and its growth needs to be fully encouraged. Like soccer, it is a sport that requires minimal infrastructural input. Its growth in Kenya will however require a tremendous amount of worthwhile effort. It is rugby that made Edward Rombo acquire an education at the prestigious Leeds University. There are several other Kenyans who can benefit from similar programmes and it is terribly disheartening that so much talent is going to waste in this country. At higher levels there are huge benefits to be reaped from lucrative sponsorship contracts and tourism. Chris Onsotti, Jackson "Jacko" Omaido, Edward Rombo and Sammy Khakame belong to four brilliant generations of Kenyan rugby players, whose potential has not fully been utilised. Our focus now should be on developing the full potential of coming generations of rugby players in Kenya, on building rugby into a common man's game in Kenya, and on firmly establishing Kenya as a top rugby playing Nation. This is an ambitious undertaking that can most certainly be attained.

What the current 7’s team has achieved is the basis of a rugby platform that cannot be ignored but must be properly utilized to realise the full potential of the 15’s game. Just take a drive to western Kenya and you will be shocked by what you see of the new emerging rugby talent. That potential must be properly harnessed and developed if Kenya is to realise its dream of playing in a 15’s Rugby World Cup.

Weekly Ramble

For some reason there seems to be a lull in the season. Having started off on a high with the Bamburi Rugby Super Series then the Junior World Rugby Trophy, the Impala Floodlit tournament is sadly coming as an anti-climax. The change in timing of the event coupled with it coming after two such major events has really dampened the event. Coupled with spectator fatigue as well as the variable weather at this time of the year, and people now saving for the Safari Sevens, I think they are registering their lowest crowds to date. However, I have noticed one good thing. The amount of sponsorship the event has attracted. I don't have any monetary figures, but the amount of branding and sponsor presence is a good sign. That many of these sponsors have already sponsored one or more events already this season shows their continued interest in the sport. And with rugby being the most talked about sport in the country at the moment, well sponsors should be falling over themselves to sponsor rugby events.

Which brings me to my ramble for this week. As much as sponsorship is good and any money "thrown" at the game is welcome, I believe there must be serious rules of engagement. My beef? As much as the sponsorship from (Telkom) Orange is welcome, I have issues with it. Orange have sneaked in as the Official Sponsor of Kenya Rugby. Like it or hate it, just casual observation would show you this. And I believe they have got the status for nothing! Don't tell me about the Ksh. 4M they have given as shorts sponsor for the 7's team, and the Ksh. 4M they have given as shirt sponsor for the 17's team, ask yourself what they are getting back for this meagre amount of money. Despite Virgin Atlantic being the official sponsor of the 7's team, Orange are now running activations and competitions on FM stations based on the 7's team. They are now running some kind of blog for the 7's team. I just wonder how that sits with Sir Richard? Compare what he gives and what he gets in return! And I don't know how KRFU values sponsorship for if you ask me, their priorities are all skewed. Take the Ksh. 4M for the 15's team. Apparently Ksh. 2.8M is for a "Mobile Gym" (I have no clue how that works). That only leaves Ksh. 1.2M for the 15's team. The way the guys were all smiles at the launch, maybe they have more information than they are releasing. KRFU already have a gym and conditioning sponsor. They tore down a gym at the RFUEA grounds. Now they spend much needed sponsorship money on a gym that may be in Kakamega when you turn up for training?

Maybe I vent too much, but even if it annoys some people, it makes me feel good. I am for strong clubs and a strong grassroot system. I believe in the bottom up way of doing things. Not the escapist top down that our government union advocates. I don't know if it will materialise, but a commentator on this blog "threatened" a major announcement in terms of a sponsor for the league. The figure on the grapevine was that same measly Ksh. 4M. Is this the selling price of Rugby in Kenya? Is this the value's worth a sponsor can get from sponsoring Rugby in Kenya? Is this what we think we are worth? I wait to see.

Do have a good week and we look forward to hot rugby action this weekend. The 7's team is in London and the Impala Floodlit tournament hosts the final matches.

Impala Floodlit 2009 - Semi Finals

Well, well. What games they were. Totally against the form book, or is it the reality. A good write up here. All I can say is the victors seemed to have been better prepared and came out to play. The score for KCB against Quins could have been much higher as they had more territory, possession and purpose in their play. Quins seemed to at sea and forced substitutions in three key areas at half time killed off whatever rhythm or hope they had to win this match.

Mwamba too were totally at sea and their over-reliance on the sevens players came to show. It is surprising that for a club with a team in the 2nd division Eric Shirley, they do not seem to have any depth whatsoever and also no systems of play. When chips are down your systems help you and this sadly was a case of missing names, not missing players. All the same kudos to Impala for a well structured and impressive display of all round rugby. Even the slight downpour did not seem to dampen their spirits or their play.

The front runners in the poll on the left are both out. Put your last votes before the final this weekend.

Impala Floodit Update

KCB 20 QUINS 12 Impala 33 Mwamba 0.

Impala Floodlit - Semi Finals

The pairings are as above. KCB meet Kenya Harlequins in the first semi at 6.00 p.m. while Mwamba meet Impala in the highlight of the day. In both pairings the teams won in contrasting styles. KCB having a relatively easy run with Quins struggling and Mwamba also having an easy run with Impala struggling. Perhaps the tournament has found its place in the middle of the season because the level of rugby being displayed is better than has been in the past.

The KCB vs. Quins game will have a serious forwards battle and that will determine the winner of this match. I see KCB having a slight edge in this department with greater mobility and strength, though Quins will have the edge in the backs, if they have a half decent fly half. I'll give KCB by 5 points.

I think Impala will still struggle against Mwamba. The forwards battle will be fairly even, not too much there. But the battle in the backs is too one-sided. I don't think Impala can do enough to starve the Mwamba backs the ball so I will give Mwamba by 12 points.

Do have a good rugby weekend. Our poll on the left has Quins and Mwamba neck and neck for the title. Will that be the case? As usual updates here after the matches. You can also follow the Twitter updates on the left which will be score by score or follow directly on Twitter if you have an account.

Kenya 7's name squad for London and Edinburgh

Great Britain here we come. That seems to be message Ayimba is making as the final stretch of the IRB 7's comes into focus.

Sitting at Nakumatt Lifestyle in this thundering rain is not the best way to spend a Wednesday evening. There is some some soccer game Man U and Wigan and I am bored stiff. Soccer just isn't my thingie majig.

Off to the cyber as I wait for my mama who is at a 'Hen's Night'. Absolutely no idea what it means but I would prefer to be back in campo as I have no brolly. Its cold so I decide to keep myself busy with a rugby oriented activity. Exams are in the air and I think my mama has her priorities wrong for today. Thats her call but I'm being affected too.

At least Kopo is not travelling we can catch up as its been a while since we talked. I hope he will be able to see how I can get a new pair of boots. I'm sure he has about a dozen a pair. Wonder if he has ever been to Migingo?

The Kenya Rugby 7's squad for the last two legs has been announced:

Deserving (Tested): Khayange, Injera, Lavin, Onyango, Weru, Oduor, Ashioya

Debatable (but worth the money) : Nyikuli, Owiti, Nyambu, Biko

Question Marks: Sudi

Sudi represents the unknown as he hasn't put on a Kenya 7's shirt in close to a year. His fitness may be suspect but he has some experience. His mental state will definitely be way behind the rest who have been competitive since his injury. Britain is good hunting ground for him. In the end he may be hungrier than the rest with a lot to prove that he is not washed out. Did not see him play in the super series but I guess he has been training regularly.

Ayimba and your boys good luck and all the way. This is the moment for the okooooooooooombbeee.

Weekly Ramble

Much as I try to avoid it, once in a while I need to do this in order to enlighten the newer visitors to this blog. Comments posted on my article on the JWRT have elicited a variety of responses. Those are things I had said before, in my rambles. Refer this one and this one. I had also vowed to myself not to answer any of these people since they seem to be blinded by something I don't understand. Personally, I think random searches of this blog will give you suggestions on how things can be run. I believe our contributors are fairly well spread and vary their contributions to cover the politics, the organisation and the technical/playing aspects of the game.

I will at this point agree with one contributor. All the clubs need to have a stake on the board at the level of their contribution. There was a proposal a few years back to have an oversight committee to guide the board, composed of club chairmen. For obvious reasons, this was soon abandoned. The parochial interests on the board are too many. And the personal or age-old vendettas too. And the only way to avoid what is now going on is with everyone having a say in the running of the union. I was challenged to offer suggestions and solutions on how to change things. There is only one thing to do.. and that is listen to the stakeholders. On the list of stakeholders I will add three constituencies that also need a say in the board. The players, the coaches and the referees. These also need a representative elected by them to represent their interests on the board. And only then will we have a complete union.

Do have a lovely week.

Impala Floodlit Quarter Final Results

In a high paced first weekend of the tournament, the expected teams came through as winners.  KCB beat Mean Machine 26-6.  Impala won over Nakuru 15-13.  Quins overcame a stubborn Nondies 15-5 while Mwamba completely overran Strathmore 43-8.  Find details here.  Just a thought.  Is there a place for sheer individual brilliance to completely tilt the favor in one team's favor as opposed to patient and controlled team work?

Have a good week.  For upto the minute scores and results you can check out our Twitter updates on the left column, or simply follow us on Twitter.

Kenya 7's fall to France in Tangiers

Tangiers Main Cup Semi final

Kenya 7 France 14

Ouch and Out

Mean Machine 6 KCB 26

We have lost and I'm dissapointed but proud of the lads. Nothing else
to do here but go watch Super 14.

I hope Kenya 7's win in Tangiers.

Kenya XV Team Named with Sponsorship

The Kenya XV team to train for this year's assignments has been named. The assignments include the Elgon Cup fixture against Uganda, both home and away, and the Africa Cup to be held in Togo later in the year. You can find details here. I will copy paste the names here as well for ease of future reference. The sponsorship from Orange may just be what the team needed. Interesting is the naming of a sevens player as captain, but their assignments will soon end with the annual Safari Sevens in Nairobi in mid June. It is good to see several new faces in the team and just judging from the trials last weekend, the fight for starting positions is going to be furious.

The squad:

Props: Daniel Kiptoo, Joel Ng’ang’a, Vincent Ong’era (Quins), Edwin Alubaka (KCB), Brian Simiyu, Desmond Mucheni (Mean Machine), Denis Abenga (Nakuru)

Locks: Anthony Ogot (KCB), Mike Aung (Nondies), Lewis Olaka (Quins), Wilson Kopondo (Mean Machine)
Flankers: David Mogere, Allan Onyango (Quins), Andrew Amonde (KCB), Brian Nyikuli (Impala), Benedict Nyambu (Nondies)

Eighthman: George Mbaye (Mwamba), Gray Cullin (Nondies), Paul Oimbo (Impala)

Scrum Halves: Charles Kanyi (Nondies), Felix Wanjala (Mean Machine), Gibson Weru (Nakuru)

Fly Halves: Alex Mutune (Nondies), Nato Simiyu (Impala), Lavin Asego (Mwamba)

Centres: Innocent Simiyu (Impala), Patrice Agunda (Quins), Humphrey Kayange (Mwamba), Biko Adema (Nondies)

Wingers: Leon Adongo (Quins), Naftaly Bondo (Impala), Collins Injera, Horace Otieno (Mwamba)

Full-backs: Vincent Mose (Nakuru), Chris Oduor (Quins)

Reserves: Paul Oketch, Kevin Wambua (Mwamba), Patrick Onyango, George Odipo (Quins), Duncan Ekasi (Impala), Benjamin Otieno, Calvins Biko (KCB), Oscar Ouma, Lawrence Byachi, Nick Lango (Nakuru), Keith Mongare (Strathmore University)

Impala Floodlit Tournament 2009

The tournament kicks of tomorrow.  The draw is as below.  The tournament will be a guide as to the form of the teams in the season to come.  I believe the teams with 7's players (read Mwamba) will have the players available and hence be at full strength.  However the players may leave before the conclusion of the event leaving a weakened? side to conclude the tournament for them.  Mwamba are the defending champions, having beaten Quins in a scintillating final last year.  Action begins at 2.00 p.m. Do have a good weekend.

Tangier 7's

Kenya in Pool B

Kenya
Western South Ovalie (France)
Algeria
AR Tangier

Top. Team qualifies for semi final main cup.

Other teams present include South Africa, France, Morocco, Tunisia and Uganda.

--

Kenya 7's in Tangiers

Its been a rough academic period so I beg to be forgiven for my silence. My campus half and I have been trying to achieve what we came to the university to do. Though she being an arts student I think I am the one carrying more than half the load andthe stress.

In all that we managed to watcth the JWRT on weekends only as during the week academics ruled. Kenya did well to finish fourth though I believe with a few more Machine players they may have easily made it in the final.

The Kenya Rugby 7's team are in Tangiers and we wish them all the best though nothing other than an outright victory is what is expected.

The team being more of a second string side is capable of going all the way though there are some characters who have had enough chances to prove themselves in the past. K'Opondo (Kopo) ought to have been made captain but I guess he will show leadership on the pitch as he always does.

The squad which Ayimba travelled which is as follows:

Fringe players getting another chance to impress: Brian Nyikuli, Leon Adongo, George Mbaye, Wilson K'Opondo, Neto Simiyu, Joshua Gathumbi, Charles Kanyi, Peter Ocholla, Naphtaly Bondo, Vincent Mose.

New and unknown: Benjamin Otieno, Maurice Mbai.

Neto Simiyu and Naphtaly Bondo have really failed to impress previously. They are simply not primed to play world class rugby. How they have been called up again really baffles.

Maybe two of the outstanding Kenya U20's should have been drafted instead. Omae and Isindu should have been prefered. Anyway that is the coaches call.

Good luck Kenya. Do us proud as usual. Kopo do your stuff in Machine style.

We shall eagerly be waiting. I doubt if SuperSport will be showing it as it would have been good to spend time at Mwenda's as they must be wondering where we have disappeard too.

On the other hand Mean Machine will be raring to strike a huge blow on KCB's title hopes at the Impala Floodlit at 2pm. (Why have games in the afternoon and still call it floodlit?). The Machine are ready - Eschuma Absolute.

Kenya Rugby: Mark Egan and Richard Omwela

A senior International Rugby Board official has poured cold water on Kenya’s hopes of hosting one of the Sevens legs.
Head of Development, Mark Egan, said he does not think Kenya is ready yet.

Omwela: Kenya is ready. We regularly hold the Safari Sevens and the foreign yeams keep coming. That’s how we know we are ready.

Speaking at the conclusion of the Junior World Rugby Trophy held in Nairobi, and for the first ever time in Africa, Egan praised the success of the JWRT, but down played thoughts of Kenya hosting an IRB leg saying:
"The JWRT is all that it was billed up to be, but I think Kenya is not yet ready to host a major leg in the sevens circuit, simply because of the financial implications," he said.

Egan said a country will need approximately $1.3m (Sh104million) to successfully host a tournament of such magnitude.

Omwela: Funds are not a problem. We will make do with the limit resources we have plus we expect the IRB to give us money as they did for JWRT. The recent JWRT showed that we can do it. We will build more changing rooms and add another two instant showers. EABL have already built us a new clubhouse. PostaPay have shown great willingness to fund this project. Virgins would be here to support us too.

Record small profit
"At the moment I don’t think that there is anyone who will be willing to foot such a big bill, because the returns will take about four years just for him to make even," said Egan.

Omwela: KRFU is capable. Just look at our accounts over the last for years minus the hidden costs. Twice we have had to call an SGM to review the accounts till the Board passed them.

"For a country like South Africa, it was just the other day before they could start to record at least a small profit from the venture, and even if you look at the United States, it had to take the intervention of a private investor to make the tournament what it is today," he said.

Omwela: South Africa only got its independence in 1994, Kenya has been independent since 1963. We have the experience.

"I would think for Kenya to risk going into such a venture with the ongoing global crisis would do more harm than good," he said.

Omwela: The global crisis is not affecting Kenya and we have the media on our side. If there was a crisis here in Kenya, the IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset would not have come to our tournament.

Egan went on to claim we would need a more robust infrastructure if we were to vie for a slot.

Omwela: As said above, we have already started during the JWRT and now we want to invest more in the Impala ground. The clubhouse is also being refurbished with the balance of the IRB funds.

"For a fact, the games can’t be played at the RFUEA. You would need a world-class stadium that can accommodate at least 16 teams at a go. I have not seen how many hotels you have, but accommodation and easy accessibility to the playing venue will also be a factor, but I do believe if Kenya remains on the track they have taken they will surely be able one day to hold a major leg in the circuit," he said.

Omwela: Fiji, France, Samoa, Japan, Kenya, Shujaa, Cameroon, Tunisia, Morroco, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Arabian Gulf, PNG, Cayman, USA, Romania, Chile, Namibia, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Samurai, Britain Army and UB40 have all played at the RFUEA grounds and quite enjoyed it. Panafric Hotel can accommodate everybody so hotels are not a problem. We shall continue with City Hoppas for easier ground access. We are ready to host the circuit. We will have more people in the stadium than in George, South Africa. Please give us a chance.

Egan went on to praise the Kenya sevens team for their performance.

Omwela: Thanks. Hope you bought a Kenya shirt. We have beaten everyone in the world except Brazil soccer team.

"The Kenya sevens team has been splendid, as we try to push for the sevens game to be included in the Olympic Games, Kenya is one of the countries we use as an example to push our agenda ahead.

Omwela: Our Kenyan athletes do us proud at every Olympic games. Rugby would fit in very well with the 3000m steeplechase.

The venues for the upcoming IRB circuit next season will be up for review at the end of this season and Kenya has had its eye on the prospects for quite a while.

Omwela: Don’t forget the games can be played at RFUEA and Impala as was the case with JWRT.

NB: The responses by Omwela are pure fiction but nevertheless represent the thinking of the current Kenya Rugby Football Union administration.

Weekly Ramble

Not really to take us back, but with the JWRT over, the verdict is the same. Refer to this post where someone mentions children, madmen and chicken in the comments. Apparently, it is common knowledge to all about what we go through. But when we mention it in this blog, all sorts of insults are hurled at us. I think it's the classic Ostrich syndrome and being content with our mediocrity! Now with the JWRT over, you'd think it's back to serious rugby. No.. Impala floodlights are here. Most players have not had a game since the end of the Super Series/Chairman's Cup. That is two weeks plus! This weekend the floodlit starts. They seem to have an under 20 event as opposed to a School's event (remember the bruhaha about developing rugby through schools, social responsibility towards the development of grassroots rugby, floodlit can only be held in January/February or schools will miss out, etc.), they are now being used by the KRFU to fulfil part of their development object (maybe payback for the use of the pitch??), but I digress... as usual. Where was I heading? I would hate to be coaching a side in Kenya this year. As much as everything in life revolves around biorythms, you have got to be able to build up towards something.

After playing the most competitive competition in Kenya (at the beginning of the season), the players take a two week break. Not all will be involved in the Floodlit tournament. Only eight teams are involved (the IRB website says we have how many clubs?) and even then not all the players in those eight clubs. If you lose in the first weekend (the quarter finals), you are idle for the next two weekends again, as you wait for the leagues to commence. After that you will play about two games, then the Safari Sevens break is upon us. Then you resume the league and it is already June! You players have been training since January (hopefully) and have had to maintain a peak level of fitness for six months? I sympathise.

All in all, do enjoy the Floodlit tournament. A non rugby fan who watched the JWRT asked "Why can't our club rugby be like this?" The verdict this time, is yours.

Please take time to vote in our poll on the left.

The Junior World Rugby Trophy

Well, quite a tournament it was. Bouquets and barbs aplenty. I'll start with the bouquets. To the Junior XV team, quite a bit has been said. From me it's kudos and a job well done. That we had not even qualified for the event and came a credible fourth, higher than the African qualifiers Namibia is no mean feat and shows we can do it. Other than the shortcomings also mentioned in this blog, the sky is the limit. A challenge, to the KRFU, this team needs to keep playing. Either together or somehow or all the good work will be lost. Friendly matches before our internationals against other junior national sides would be a start. If not against club select sides (under 20) and so on. We must keep building on this. And to coach Mojo, good work and we wish you well in your future endeavours. As has been pointed out to you by many, you need to make your own name, don't let others take credit for your work.. but with the same breath, do not be afraid to ask for help.

To Mentalacrobatics and the rest of the JWRT LOC, a job well done, in the end. It really was a showpiece. I hope the tournament manual will be made available to all clubs and bodies hosting tournaments so as to get our standards up to that level. That it took a foreign Tournament Director to whip our collective a$$e$ into line was a bit of an embarrassment, but in the end all good. I won't go into too much detail about that, but you know what I'm talking about.

To all the participating teams, thank you for your attendance and the high quality of matches displayed throughout. If anything you showed us that we truly have a lot of work to do at that level in order to improve our game at the top. To the legacy manager, I'm still waiting to see..lol. And to all the spectators, thanks for proving me wrong. The crowds were fantastic and that is what is needed to draw the sponsors to the game. Speaking of sponsors, kudos to the few I saw.. H20, Homeboyz, Knight Support, Wrigley's (PK gums), KK Security, the pies guys (I forget your name), KBC and SuperSport. Anyone I've forgotten, sorry for that. A note to potential sponsors, you slept on this one!!

Do have a good week.

The Weekly Ramble will be back this week.

Romania win the JWRT

Two mistakes by the US in the last five minutes allowed Romania to run away 25 13 victors. The match had been balanced on a knife edge for most of the match and at 13 all for most of the 2nd half.

Chile take the bronze medal after a hard fought 19 17 victory over host nation Kenya.

JWRT - Playoffs Day

The Junior World Rugby Trophy comes to an end today at the RFUEA grounds. On the cards are all the playoff matches for positioning, as usual preview here.I think the structure of the tournament is interesting, though you are always left with the lingering question of what it? For instance, what if Namibia had not scored that last minute try against Kenya? What if the US had failed to garner that bonus point as they did, with two minutes to spare in the game? What if Namibia had won that match? And to many this question possibly would be answered with a second chance, in the name of Semi Final matches. But alas, it is not to be and we blew our chance for the finals with that loss.

Today we face Chile. From what I have seen their game is dominated by their loose play around their forwards, though their backs are no slouches either. I therefore expect them to focus on this and try to wear out our "smaller" players. We on the other hand will try to keep the ball alive and moving all round, hoping our dangerous backline containing the Quins pair of Patrice Agunda and Collins Omae can strike. Leadership from the front will still be lacking but Ken Isindu will adequately deputise in that department. We wish the boys well in their quest for third position.

Do have a good Rugby Sunday.