COACH INTRIGUES AT KRU: Politics and interests delay naming of 7s team coach

Rugby player Innocent Simiyu wins the comeback of the year during the 2014 SOYA Awards at KICC, Nairobi on 16-01-2015.PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYO[PHOTO: COURTESY]

Politics and interests could have led to the delay of naming of the Kenya Sevens head coach.

The technical bench members for all the three national teams, Kenya Sevens, Kenya Lionesses and Kenya U19, were expected to be unveiled yesterday, but the function was indefinitely postponed by the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU).

However, it seems the KRU board had not agreed on the next permanent coach for the Singapore Sevens champions.

Reports indicate that former Kenya Sevens captain Innocent ‘Namcos’ Simiyu was set to be unveiled as Benjamin Ayimba’s successor only for the ceremony to be rescheduled after the legendary former New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens inquired about the vacant coaching job.

Tietjens, who ended his illustrious 22-year coaching career with the New Zealand after the All Blacks’ failed Rio Olympic test, has been on KRU’s radar despite not applying for the job that recently saw them narrow down their search to five candidates.

Former New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjens. PHOTO: AGENCIES

The interest from the most sought after Tietjens, who has also been linked with Samoa Sevens national team, forced the Union to abruptly cancel the planned press conference.

KRU are understood to be in contact with the 60-year-old tactician with a view of making Simiyu his deputy.

“Absolutely no politics played here, not at all. Have we released any statement confirming ‘Namcos’ as the coach? We are still looking at all available options both locally and internationally. We don’t want to be in this same situation three years down the line,” KRU Chairman Richard Omwela told Feverpitch.

“We are looking at a holistic and long term agreement that is why we are in contact with a coach like Tietjens. Yes, we have finished the interviews, but there is no way we could interview a coach of his stature. If he is available he is just head hunted. We cannot subject him to interviews. He has received different offers, but he is looking at us also.”

The official, however, fell short of saying Simiyu will be coach unless Tietjens becomes available.

Another KRU official who sought anonymity said: “The options are still open. It is up to the selecting panel to finalise their job and bring the candidate to us.

“Whether foreigner or not, the negotiations are still going on. It is just that we didn’t manage to beat the deadline, but I can tell you for free there is no politics in this one. It is not a matter of personality but contractual issues which are being sorted out.”

He further admitted that it is race against time as the delay is affecting the team’s assembling and preparation ahead of the Dubai Sevens, the first leg of the 2016/17 World Rugby Sevens Series Season to kick off on December 2.

“Time is not on our side and we need to engage the players and contract them as well. But we cannot do this without a new technical bench in place,” the official said.