Weekly Ramble

Sorry for my long absence. Had taken a sabbatical so to speak. Watching from afar, but more hoping my co-bloggers would take up the void and fill you with their issues. I tend to watch more on game related issues and not so much about the shenanigans that surround the administration and their cohorts. Not that I would not hesitate to point out something that seems totally out of place, but again not my style.

This is the period of the Rugby World Cup and I have been keenly watching the matches. Interesting that the teams that used to perceived as perennial underdogs, are finally rising to the challenge. Not really to being competitive, but we're yet to see a 100+ score and these have usually been handed out in not so pleasant doses to the African and Asian teams. Which led me to thinking, can we ever qualify for the Rugby World Cup?

Looking at the African teams that have been to the RWC, we have Zimbabwe, Cote d'Ivoire and Namibia. Tunisia have come the closest but that's about it. Zimbabwe seem to have fallen in standard and Cote d'Ivoire, no one really knows. Do we as Kenya have what it takes to qualify? Do we have the players? Do we have the technical nous? Do we have the technical teams? Given, qualification is a lengthy process, but it does ride in 4 year cycles. Do we have a plan for the next 4 years? Or are we just hoping for a miracle? Being African we do believe a lot in natural wonders and those of the spiritual kind, but have we assessed our standing or our ability to actually qualify? This brings to mind a ramble I did two years ago (link here) and even then nothing seems to have changed? We are left to our own designs and even those are totally lacking in anything constructive. Last time Kenya played Namibia, we beat them at home. In the same year, we had faced our heaviest defeat ever in international rugby. Had we improved? Was that the same side we beat? Is there any chance of us beating the current Namibia team in the RWC? Why then do we have hope of qualifying for the RWC? What are we doing to be able to qualify for the RWC? Waiting for a messiah it seems. And we all know what happens to those!

Love the game as we might, we have to face reality at times and that is we will not qualify for the RWC, even in the next 10 years. And we need someone who can see and accept that, and put steps in place, that he will not reap the benefits, but look back in time and say - that's my baby, all grown up! Pity I had to give him up for adoption.

Do have a good week and enjoy your rugby. Do enjoy the ongoing National Sevens Circuit as well, with the Kabeberi Sevens this weekend. And lastly, enjoy the Rugby World Cup, on TV or in the stands, for that is all we will ever do.