Something Not Right

Said many times

In different words and forms

Some will call it a bird

Others call it a fish

But what we know

It's usually a poor attempt

To hide one's purpose

Starts out as honourable

And becomes a privilege

Pretty soon you call it fun

And say how great

But as I said before

Once it's in the open

Everyone will know

The sayings I'm talking about - "If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then what is it?", "If is looks like a fish, and smells like a fish, then it is a ...."

Coach Michael "Tank" Otieno has been set up big time. By those too cowardly to tell him in his face that his time is up! This is not the first time. We have seen it before. Almost exactly four years ago, then Coach Thomas Odundo was shown the door after a series of dismal performances. One, the then highest loss to any other team, an 8 -100 loss to potential Super 12 side the Southern Spears, followed closely by a humiliating loss in a World Cup Qualifier to Namibia 12-84. Correspondence in my possession shows the trend of events leading up to these results and his eventual dismissal and uncannily, it is playing out in a similar fashion. From an ill prepared team for the Zimbabwe Victoria Cup clash and now, a meaningless trip to South Africa to play a Currie Cup side, still without adequate preparation.. something's not right. Initially I thought the entire trip was funded by the hosts and hence did not see anything wrong to utilise the opportunity. But it has now come to light that "free" tickets from sponsor Kenya Airways were used for the trip!! Wouldn't it have been better to do a training camp for 8-10 days in South Africa instead of submitting ourselves to such humiliation. Or better still, travel to some other country, closer to our level, that we would gain more from?

Since the 8-100 loss to the Spears, what has really changed in Kenyan Rugby. Have our players become fitter? Have they become stronger? Have they become faster? Have they become better rugby players? What is our measure of this? Not that the technical team are blameless or angels either. DM always berates them for insisting on selecting players instead of coaching them and that has not been any different this year. I do not think inclusion of the sevens players will have changed the score line much. For modern rugby is all systems and patterns, neither of which we have!

I am watching events unfold carefully. Someone is already primed and been offered the job of National Coach and is waiting in the sidelines. Going by the four year old script in my hands, I can already identify the individual and just ticking off my checklist. |Interesting times ahead. Do have a good week.