Tough times ahead for Sevens rugby team

Kenya Chairman's Adrian Opondo is tackled by Samurai's players during their Safari sevens tournament match at Kasarani stadium on 27-09-2014.PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYOCaption

All is not well with the national Sevens rugby team. With three months to the Olympic qualifying matches, the players and management have vowed not to start training until the Kenya Rugby Union address their grievances.

Shujaa, who finished 13th with 46 points in the recent 2014-15 HSBC Sevens World Series, are expected to resume training on Monday July 13, in preparations for the Olympic Qualifiers in November and the 2015-16 IRB season that kicks off in December.

In a press conference yesterday at Panafric Hotel, the team led by team manager Steve Sewe and captain Andrew Amonde, threatened to boycott training, demanding three-month unpaid salary and called for implementation of the 2011 High Performance Programme.

The pair was accompanied by Vuyo Zangqa (assistant coach), Graham Bentz (strength and conditioning), Collins Injera (assistant captain), Patrice Agunda and Humphrey Kayange. “In 2011, KRU undertook a High Performance Programme, but since then, nothing has been implemented. No equipment and supplements have been bought and our medical program is porous. There has been a high turnover of coaches and insecurity in players’ contracts,” said Sawe.

“The 2012 development team used to participate in satellite tournaments, but right now, we don’t even have a feeder team. As we seek to qualify for Olympics and play IRB, none of those requirements have been provided.”

“We have held numerous meetings with the Union, but there is no clear direction. To make matters worse, the players have not been paid salary for three months.”

Amonde said the players have been suffering in silence and it is time Kenyans knew what they are going through.

“We have been hard-pressed by the tough conditions to explain why we have been struggling to perform. As players, we don’t get the type of treatment we deserve.”