Weekend Games

The Bamburi Rugby Super Series kicks off tomorrow with matches in 3 venues. The Cheetahs kick off the event against Rwenzori of Uganda, defending champions Rhinos then take on the Sharks at the RFUEA grounds. In Mombasa, debutants Bulls take on visiting Lions and Victoria round it off at home against Buffaloes in Kampala.

Not much I can say until I see the teams but the defending champs are obviously favored over the Sharks, Cheetahs should pip Rwenzori which on paper is the weaker Ugandan side, the Lions won't struggle against Bulls and Victoria will triumph over Buffaloes.

Do have a good weekend and do enjoy the matches.

Weekly Ramble

Sorry for my short absence, took a well deserved break from it all and now fully refreshed. I have seen the comments on the Rugby Super Series and some of those echo my own thoughts. A lot of hype goes into this event, and undoubtedly, it is the premier rugby event in East Africa. That it has gone through lots of transformation since inception in 2003, I feel it has lost touch somewhere. Given that the first event was quickly cobbled together to create the franchises, for one little has been done to maintain them. The reshuffling of teams within the franchises means the original Lions team of 2003 is not comprised of the same teams of players. A winner with the Cheetahs in 2004 could very easily have been a winner with the Buffaloes in 2005 (not actual) and not by changing his nominating team. In attempting to improve club/team management, the event has failed miserably as in there are no standards or rules for nomination to the management of the teams and cronyism and all manner of isms has crept in with personal agendas and fiefdoms ruling the day. But I digress.

By the third year when the tournament was confirmed and a permanent fixture, and sponsors were now getting value and willing to put in their money, the franchises should have taken permanent forms, not subject to cutting and pasting. And a fair system of distributing new players hatched. Existing players to the franchise would be the original team. Each season, clubs would be asked to submit say 8 new players to a pool, from which the franchises would draft the players in turn, giving everyone a fair chance of getting the top players. No player would be allowed to play who was not forwarded to the pool. And this would happen every year. This would create permanence, create a structure that is known and followed, remove the perception that some franchises are stronger than others - and totally kill clubism!

As a development tool, I'm not sure if the aims have been achieved. That quality games are few and mainly towards the knockout stages also dilutes the spectator value. But that is the subject of a complete post.

Incidentally trying to get information on this event is proving very difficult. With the old website taken down, and the subsequent sub domain on the KRU website showing last years information - is everyone really in sync on this event?

All in all do enjoy your Bamburi Rugby Super Series and may the best side win.

Weekly Ramble

Though considered low key on the playing side by some, the just concluded Resolution Health Impala Floodlit Tournament got me thinking. Was it a revelation to us or by some to themselves? Is self belief and confidence a factor in the game? Is the term underdog derogatory in its use or connotation? Is there then hope for us as a nation? And with the upcoming Bamburi Rugby Super Series, what does that mean?

I actually do not have any answers to the above but it got me to put my thinking cap on and wonder, can we find direction from all this? From a feeling of hopelessness I finally found something to look forward to. In one of recent rambles I asked if the Kenya Cup champions were really that good, or the rest not up to the cut? And I think I'm finding my answers. Without raising any ire from anyone, let me just say the rest did not rise to the challenge. That they were capable and able to is now clear to me. That they failed it is upon themselves to find out why. I have some pretty good idea but that is just mine. And those that failed in the Kenya Cup and yet again in the Floodlit, some serious self reflection is required. Not name calling or finger point, for "the whole is the sum total of parts". And it is not identifying which part did not function, but rather why the parts failed to fit seamlessly into each other. The people with that answer came out on top and that to me was the revelation.

Is there then hope for all of us, to grow and improve in our game? Time will tell, for it is the managers or owners of the parts, that determine the destiny of the whole! Do have a good week and enjoy your rugby.

Time running out for Leeds

If Leeds are going to pull off another great escape, then they are going to need to perform much better than they managed at the weekend against Wasps. The league's bottom side were blown away by the Londoners in a comprehensive 51-18 defeat at Adams Park, with the hosts running in seven tries.

Wasps never gave Leeds a chance of getting into the game with a confident all-round display with Joe Simpson and Richard Haughton both bagging a couple of tries. The victory put an end to Wasps three-game losing run and the result now casts major doubts over whether Leeds can now get out of their current predicament with only two games left to go and those looking at online betting UK will realise this. Leeds' director of rugby Neil Back admitted his team hadn't turned up for the crunch match.

"The squad feel they've let everyone at the club down but that performance was not a reflection of how they've been playing," he said.

Although the defeat will have hit Leeds' survival hope hard, the bigger problem for Neil Back will be the nature of the loss which now leaves his side only two games to save their top-flight status. Leeds are now level on points with Newcastle, but the Falcons have a game in hand to try and put some distance between themselves and their rivals. The sports betting online suggests they have every chance of doing so.

Leeds' home match against Harlequins will now be basically 'a must win' situation, and Back has called on the "whole of Yorkshire" to turn up at Headingley next week as the club look to make it back-to-back successful relegation battles and avoid dropping into the Championship.

With such a large percentage of the rugby following Leeds public choosing league over union, the club have always failed to compete with the Rhino's large fan-base. If some of those rugby league fans turn out next week for Carnegie then it would be a major boost to their chances of springing a surprise against Harlequins.

Gravy Train Rolls In

Been some time

And then a while

That I felt moved

To write something down

Not much happening

Not much moving me

But again others are moving

Moving on, or moving in

Only time will tell

But that I'm sure

Is that eat they shall

Eat a bit

Or eat it all

The size of the waist

Will tell the tale!

A flurry of activity is taking place with sponsorship after sponsorship being unveiled for the upcoming Bamburi Super Rugby Series. Week after week millions of shillings and we all know only a paltry sum reaches the players. Certain people loathe to run for elective office, crowd in and crowd others out of these activities and I wonder what is the motivation? Does the Super Series committee follow the KRU laid down procurement regulations (if there are any) or how does one become a vendor for the event as most of the money is consumed in goods and services! Certain people only appear at this time, to lord over others, then quickly disappear with the smoke of the train. Good tournament as it is, is it our flagship event, and what then is, the Kenya Cup. Misplaced priorities I tell you..

Floodlit Finals..

Quite spectacular I must say and truly one for the romantics. Several pundits had written them off by half time and as usual KCB believed the press.. things definitely changed thereafter. Congratulations to Strathmore on a tournament well played.

Weekend Games

David vs. Goliath, only time will tell. Strathmore take on KCB in their first ever appearance in the finals of the Impala Floodlit Event. Along they way they have knocked off big names like Harlequins and Mwamba. KCB are no slouch either, having convincingly put away defending champions Impala in the semi finals. I refrain from this one, but your predictions please!

Do have a good weekend and do enjoy your rugby.

Weekly Ramble

SPOILING THE PARTY!

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?

KRFU Abidjan on Ngong Road needed yesterday

Bwana Mwangi,

The two pictured gentlemen should be the first you get rid off as you streamline Kenya Rugby with the much awaited SGM.

Category one - Fred Ollows and Frank Sabwa

Category two - Auka Gecheo and Fred Odhiambo

Category three - Mike Mwanja and Henry Emuye

Category four - Vincent Lukalo and Wangila Simiyu

Muthee please clean up Kenya Rugby as the above do not add value to Kenya Rugby

Letter to the New Chairman KRFU - Michael Mwangi Muthee

Congratulations Bwana Mwangi on your election as the new KRFU Chairman.

But before you sit pretty, why not read the below for good information purposes.

Dear Mr. Chairman & New Directors,

I would like to congratulate you and the new directors on your win at the elections. I am sure your first board meeting is round the corner and a lot of house cleaning needs to be done. Our Union has been rotting for quite a while and the clubs have given you a mandate to clean up the rot without fear. Some of the pressing issues i would like you to tackle is

1.) Expenditure & Accounts- The Secretary Frank Sabwa seems to have a lot of power in regards to signing cheques, approving payments, awarding tenders, controlling the KRU accounts, even exercising powers of the Chairman. It is no secret that Sabwa was involved in the preparation of the KRU accounts, poor emuye was then set-up to present them. Please ensure that Emuye will be the authority of financial approvals at KRU, secondly all major expenditure must be approved by the board to ensure we have transparency. Please ensure that a forensic audit is done on the KRU accounts before the 30 day period for the SGM elapses, and proper accountable books are presented. If some money is not accounted for then we will call in PLO lumumba.

The two secret accounts that have money and are controlled by two signatories MUST be wrestled back to the board. You have the goodwill of the people and three strong Directors on board, take charge of the KRU and be hands on.

Some of the questions on expenditure are as follows

-The G.M travelled to Australia through South Africa on the eve of an AGM to collect kit, who authorised the trip?? Why him on the eve of an AGM

-On several occassions the Secretary of KRU has travelled with Kenya 15s and 7s at the expense of KRU, did the board Authorize??

if the board Authorized is it not the duty of the respective Directors to travel and represent the Board. The misuse of KQ tickets, sponsorship Money and IRB grants must stop.

- How come the budget of Bamburi Super Series has been left to one individual to control??? Does KRU have audited accounts for this tournament as it attracts a huge amount of sponsorship monies??.

-Why does the Development Manager have a Credit Card linked to the Union accounts??? Was this a board decision??? This shows you why a small office with 6 staff has a huge expenditure in the books.

-Did the board authorize the expenditure for the secretary's campaign trip to western kenya before the elections??

-Out of 4m received from the western union sponsorship only 800,000Kshs goes to the hosting clubs, how is the remaining 3.2m spent???

2.)KRU CARTEL- I must warn you Chairman and the New Directors about the KRU cartel, some of the the old guard who are still resisting change in Kenya Rugby are still on board, we all saw the behaviour of the development manager at the AGM??? A development Officer, behaving like a political appointee loyal to his masters and not a servant of the people.The GM being used as a campaign manager of the incumbent. The position of GM must be abolished, to my understanding a GM should be able to make decisions on behalf of a board which is not the case at KRU. All decisions are vested on the board by the clubs. This position should be restructured to a rugby co-ordinator and the persons must report to a Director on the board. As we saw in the past, this position has been used to intimidate some clubs, issue amorphous directives like the withdrawal of Kabeberi and Christies from the circuit without the knowledge of the board. If you do not break down this cartel and restructure the office,by creating for them clear working parameters backed by progressive reports, they will bring you down and destroy your vision for Kenya Rugby. One rotten potatoe is enough to make the whole sack go bad.

To the new directors Myke, Nyamodi, Adembesa. You are all known to be reformists in the game have no fear the people are with you. Ask questions?? support your chairman and most importantly represent the peoples will.

To the KRU cartel, this is a notice for you to resign or the tsunami of change will sweep you out.

Mr. Chairman, God Bless you and give you the strength to lead us to the promised land.

John Osoro

Another one...

Dear Rugby Owners,

In case it might have slipped your minds as the affiliates, the society named

The Kenya Rugby Union,draws it's legitimacy from your existence;and that to all

intents and purposes makes you the owners of the sport in Kenya.

Further on the same note,you are the bosses and all officers and employees of

KRU are beholden to you and certainly not the other way round.

Further am pleased to openly declare and state,that at this point in

time in our

nations rugby history, I cannot think of a finer person to take our beloved

sport, to where it belongs;than Mike Mwangi Muthee.

This email is thus composed and sent out with the singular intent of

ensuring,that Mwangi's endevours,together with all yours collectively,does not

face any impediments on the onerous and noble duty that you have all bestowed

upon him.

I am receipt of a widely circulated mail,that I think most if not all of you

received on April 8.Titled "A NEW ERA IN KENYA RUGBY" in touches generally on

many aspects of issues,that I am currently investigating.

However as both Aoka Gecheo and Frank Sabwa have refused to

co-operate with me,

I am now compelled to address you the owners of the sport in Kenya,

through this

forum.

Kindly DEMAND from them answers to the following and yes, as one who

has been on

the scene since 1974 (when still in primary school),I concur fully with the

need to do a thorough house clean out.

I also agree that unless the following 4-6 persons do not exit,main

stream rugby

administration like jana,the revolution will be aborted.

Fred "niga" Odhiambo -V-Chairman,Fred Ollows - Development Manager,Henry Emuye

-Treasurer,Oscar Omwoyo - inactive director and most critically Gecheo and

Sabwa.

1) STAFF COMPONENT:

1) How many persons are on the KRU payroll?

2) Were they engaged through a competitive recruitment process??? If

no,why not?

If yes,send copy of the advert.

3) When were they engaged,what are their exact duties and kindly avail to us a

copy of their employment contract?

4) Minutes of board meeting that discussed and approved their employment?

2) EXTERNAL RESOURCE PERSONS

1) How many persons offer regular services to the KRU? ie

Consultants,trainers,advisors,

part timer's,researchers etc?

2) Were they engaged through a competitive recruitment process? If not,why

not;if yes provide copy of advert?

3) When were they engaged,what are their exact duties and avail a copy of their

relationship contract with KRU?

4) Minutes of board meeting that discussed and approved this engagement?

3) VENDORS

1) Kindly furnish us with a complete list of persons/companies that are

currently engaged in offering goods and services, to the KRU under the

following

categories:

A) Transport (taxis,car hire)

B) Catering during KRU functions at the RFUEA ground,but excluding the Safari

Sevens?

C) Travel and ticketing services.

d) Cleaning

e) Security

f) Website maintenance and media services.

2) Copies of their contracts.

3) Minutes of board meeting that discussed and approved their engagement.

4) KENYA RUGBY REFEREES TRIP TO MANCHESTER

1) Messrs Karuga,Omwoyo and Karani were to have flown out to the UK on April 8

but for a delay in getting their visas.They are already holding KQ tickets.

My information is that they are neither going to attend a seminar,training or

conference but rather to "observe and mingle" with their hosts the MRRS!!

This trip is the initiative of the KRRS with MRRS only going to

provide food and

board.

Final go ahead for this trip was given by Frank Sabwa on March 30 and

should you

rugby owners not put a halt to this nonsense, by INSTRUCTING jointly and

individually Messrs.Sabwa and Gecheo, to withdraw the tickets,till the matter

is exhaustively discussed at a board meeting; this two week junket

will cost you

ksh.500,000/-!!??

How? Air tickets,visas,insurance,

airport transfers,travel allowances,per diem

while in the UK.

John Kagagi,referees development manager is the reported main mover of this

trip.

Again to Messrs.Sabwa and Gecheo:

1) What is the purpose/importance of this trip?

2) Whose initiative?

3) Complete financial implication to KRU?

4) Minutes of board meeting that approved trip and expenditure?

5) AOKA GECHEO TRIP TO ADELAIDE

Gecheo reportedly burnt ksh.500k of your cash on a jaunt half way across the

world,reportedly to deliver kit to the National Sevens team in Adelaide!!??

That's my information, but obviously, the following questions directed to him

and Sabwa, that they are obligated to answer, SHALL bring out the EXACT details.

1) Exact purpose of trip?

2) Breakdown of financial outlay to KRU?

(tickets,transfers,visas,insurance,travel accommodation,accommodation,

per diem.)

3) Details of board approval?

Kenya Xv players earn ksh.325 per training session.

If we paid a squad of 30 players,just ksh.1000/- each per training

session,twice

a week, ksh.500k would last them the next 8 weeks!!!

6) VOLCANO KIT DEAL

1) Complete disclosure of the same by furnishing us with copies of the

contract?

2) Board approval minutes for the same?

3) Names of chief negotiators on KRU part?

4) Financial benefits to KRU?

7) FORD FOUNDATION FUNDING OF "HISTORY OF KENYA RUGBY PROJECT"

Several mails to both Gecheo,Sabwa and Kagagi, have drawn blanks.

However my information is that FORD foundation released monies in

February for a

6 months funding of the entire history of Kenya rugby.

Gecheo and Sabwa, then unilaterally appointed Kagagi as the lead researcher on

the project.

The three have stonewalled about revealing the financial details,save to state

that the funds are being held in an account to which Kagagi and someone in the

KRU are signatories.

Further they claim rather incredulously that it was Kagagi's initiative (as

whom??) to seek the funding from FORD foundation and thus,that he is the owner

of the project and entitled to handle it as he so pleases!!

This cannot be so as you the affiliates are the principal stakeholders in the

sport and a project of this magnitude touches on every aspect of the sport;and

thus cannot be handled in secrecy,such as is the case thus far.

Further in unilaterally appointing Kagagi who is neither a proven

researcher,journalist/editor/

writer and overlooking many others who have been

associated with the sports for donkey years;messrs Sabwa and Gecheo are

obviously setting out to doing and providing a shoddy job.

They are also in violation of objective 5.1.1 of the Unions constitution that

states and I quote " The main objects and powers of the Union are and SHALL be

to promote,foster,encourage,

control and develop the game of Rugby Union

throughout the Republic of Kenya".

Questions to the two musketeers or three if you throw in Kagagi into the mix:

1) What is the scope of this project?

2) Avail to us copies of the contract between FORD foundation and KRU?

3) What is the total funding given

4) Who is carrying it out on the behalf of KRU?

5) Why him/them and not others?

6) On what terms has this / these person/s been engaged?

7) Board meeting that approved this appointment?

8) Details of where the project funding has been banked and details of

expenditure thus far?

8) IAPS / KENYA UNDER 13 TRIP TO UK

1) Minutes of board meeting that approved this trip?

2) Details of monies raised for the same?

3) Details of monies paid to KRU by the trip organizers?

4) Details of ongoing financial discussions between IAPs and KRU?

9) KQ SPONSORSHIP;CASH AND TICKETS

1) How many tickets have been utilized over the period of this deal?

2) By whom and on what assignment?

3) Proof of board authorization?

4) Breakdown of the KQ ksh.32million cash,given over the past 2 years?

10 IRB DEVELOPMENT GRANT

1) Total amount received during Messrs.Sabwa's reign ie 2006-2011 April.

2) Microscopic filed monthly details of its utilization?

3) Details of board approval meetings for the same?

4) Copies of statements of return's sent to IRB on the same?

SUMMARY

Edit and re-send a summarised version of this mailis contents to messrs.Sabwa

and Gecheo, by April 11 with the demand that since the nature of your enquiries

are official,you expect the issues mentioned to be on file and thus expect

answers, within 24 hours latest.(Sabwa is on info@kenyarfu.com or

frank@achievers.co.ke,while Gecheo is on auka.gecheo@kenyarfu.com)

In particular let them know that copies of contracts with full financial

disclosures are non negotiable for you,the sports owners!!

Should you not have a written response say within 72 hours,then issue

to Sabwa a

formal notice of seeking to have his,Gecheo's and Emuye's conduct discussed

during the next Special General Meeting and instructing him to place

your notice

of intent on the meetings agenda.

Read also section 10.14.3 and section 14.3 of the KRU constitution.

FOR GOD and Kenya Rugby,

CHARLES OUKO