New Shujaa coach to be named by weekend-KRU

The national men’s rugby sevens team, Shujaa, will have a new coach by the weekend according to the Kenya Rugby Union with four, including Benjamin Ayimba who led the side last season, shortlisted for the job.

Speaking on Thursday, Union chairman, Richard Omwela, said the interviews for the positions had kicked-off to fill the position that attracted eight foreigners among the 14 who applied for job by the September 30 deadline.

Innocent Simiyu, Charles Cardovillis and Paul Murunga are the other shortlisted applicants for the job with none of the foreigners making the final grading.

With Ayimba never stating his desire to vacate the positions, questions arose when KRU advertised for the position early last month in what was seen as an attempt to elbow him out following the controversy that shadowed the men and women sevens teams at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

“His contract ended, that’s why we had to advertise the vacant job,” Omwela told Citizen Digital that is contrary to what the coach who led Kenya to her first Olympics in Brazil had earlier stated.

The peculiar process to install Shujaa’s next boss attracted the attention of former head coach, Mike Friday, who tweeted his disapproval with the process.

“I’m confused why is there even a shortlist if Ben is on it…doesn’t make sense.Either KRU want him to keep doing the job or they don’t,” the Briton wrote on his official handle, @MikeFriday09.

Both Omwela and Ayimba welcomed the new format of the HSBC World Series that embraces the Olympics format in the build-up to the Tokyo 2020 Games following the sports’ successful debut at Rio 2016.

“It’s good since we experienced the system in the Olympics, where all teams were ranked and for those who made it to the podium were rewarded with gold, silver and bronze,” explained the KRU boss.

“We won a Cup, finished as runner-ups and third last season so everything is well with us. It’s all fine because we wanted to see us follow the Olympics system,” Ayimba echoed.

APPLICANTS FOR KENYA 7S HEAD COACH POSITION

1.Andrew Curtain, Australia –Level 1 and SC

2.Liam Middleton, England RFU –Level 4

3.Richie Williams, England –RFU Level 3

4.Sailosi Naiteqe, Fiji –Level 2

5.Chris Davis, Hong Kong –Level 3

6.Benjamin Ayimba, Kenya –Level 1

7.Nick Abok, Kenya –Level 1 Impala

8.Innocent Simiyu, Kenya – Level 2 Impala

9.Mitch Ocholla, Kenya –Level 2 Strathmore

10.Chris Neil, New Zealand –Level 3

11.Will Webster, South Africa –Level 3

12.Aschin Klein, South Africa –Level 2

13.Charles Cardovillis, Kenya –Level 1

14.Paul Murunga, Kenya –Level 2