Shujaa skip training as KRU rushes to resolve pay dispute

National sevens team Shujaa captain Andrew Amonde hopes the latest bonus pay dispute with Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) will be resolved soon for the team to resume training for the 2016/17 HSBC World Sevens Series opener in Dubai next weekend.

Players kept away from training on Wednesday as Union officials, technical bench led by head coach Innocent ‘Namcos’ Simiyu and their representatives held crisis talks to diffuse the standoff.

The latest twist came a day after KRU entered into a new lucrative sponsorship deal with a betting firm with none of the players present during the unveiling at the Rugby Football Union of East Africa grounds in Nairobi.

“There is an issue going on but it is being sorted and we are hoping it will be done today (Wednesday). It will not affect anything, everything is in order, its a matter of meeting and clearing the air,” the veteran Shujaa skipper told Citizen Digital when contacted.

 

 

Their action came after the players threatened to stop training for the opening legs of the HSBC season in Dubai and South Africa if they are not paid outstanding bonuses accrued from the 2015/16 season amounting to Ksh20m.

Speaking on Tuesday, KRU chairman Richard Omwela said a contract with Shujaa players was signed without their knowledge by CEO Ronald Bukusi who is in the US for treatment.

“Bukusi may have negotiated a contract that included a bonus scheme. We have not received a briefing from him as he is still away in the US,” he added.

This latest development is a major setback for head coach Simiyu who is preparing to name his squad for Dubai and Cape Town Sevens on Thursday.

Our effort to reach Shujaa boss Simiyu were not successful after he directed Citizen Digital to KRU saying he did not have capacity to comment on the situation.

 

Two seasons ago, former South African coach Paul Treu found himself in a similar situation as senior players boycotted training over unpaid allowances, forcing him to name a relatively young squad for Dubai 7s and last season, his predecessor Benjamin Ayimba was also rocked by a similar dispute as he prepared for the start of the tour.

Tags:

Shujaa Rugby Innocent 'Namcos' Simiyu boycott Benjamin Ayimba Andrew Amonde Kenya 7s Richard Omwela Dubai 7s HSBC World Series Paul Treu

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