For the past year or so, I have
not commented much on the Sevens team. Be it their performances, my perceived abilities of the players, of the technical team, or the board that guides them. Not that I had nothing to say, but I think like most of us I was confused. Listening to the head coach can do that to you. So can believing in the players. And worst off listening to your heart more than you head. So I decided to just sit back and watch... whether I enjoyed or not is a story for another day.Now with the new head of the board that has come in, a lot of expectations are coming to the fore. Whether it is to clean up the administration, or the management of the game in the country. Whether it is to reorganise our playing structures or our priorities as a developing rugby nation. Or whether to give more emphasis to the sevens or the fifteens code and how that would affect our development. Personally I have no expectations of the new office, meaning that whatever they do, it will be a plus for me. So where am I going with this?
It is very clear we do not have what it takes to compete with the best at this point in time. And neither money nor new players will change this any time soon. What then is our way out? Firstly I believe we play exactly the way we train, and hence our major weakness, defense. This means our attacks are also not realistic. And how can we improve on this? Dismantle the current system with core players and fringe players.. the academy can remain with some subtle changes to its mode of operation. With no guaranteed or preferential places in the team, everyone will have to work hard each time for their places. And their performance can be measured by using specific criteria - tackle attempts, made, missed - pass completion rate, assists, all very objective. And that is how places will be won in the team. Much of this is severely lacking and people make the team merely by being available! And to make it more fun, open out the sessions to 4-5 wild cards each time, and see the competition rise.
With nothing to lose and all to gain, why can't we expose more players to the international scene. Some may stay in the team, others may not, and even others may find a place in other lands. The last conclusion in some quarters to make the players professional... that I think is subject for another post. Let us have more free spirits in the game, and maybe, just maybe we may find something.
Do have a good week and do enjoy your rugby. Who's your money on for the Floodlit final this weekend?
2 Comments:
I appreciate your perception of the whole rug thing n i agree with u especially on the fact that for years we have seen the same pple in the kenya teams based on theri availabilty yet there should b try out to b selected and players should be observed the whole season and not the same pple reping us over and over again,younger and fresha pple r int he field currently hu i bliv hav greater potential n provided with the perfect opportunity will do thiz country justice....we need a fair union...n nw that ayimba has done hiz part kwani therz no other coach in kenya pliz....
other coaches are blacklisted for citing the union when they make wrong calls or they are non-conformists to union cartels. thats why we see the debacle we have at our hands.
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