Rugby: KRU boss vows to guide Shujaa to glory
Rugby
By
Clement Wekulo
| Mar 22, 2019
Newly elected Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) chairman Oduor Gangla has promised to bring back Kenya’s lost glory in rugby Sevens.
Gangla said he is keen to ensure senior Kenya Shujaa players resume duty starting with next month’s Hong Kong Sevens.
Fourteen seasoned players have not taken part this season as they have been embroiled in contractual wrangles with KRU.
Their absence has proved costly as the side is yet to reach cup quarter-finals of the IRB Series, six legs into the campaign.
Gangla, who clinched the top seat in Wednesday’s KRU polls after garnering 33 votes of the 52 cast, said both parties are committed to finding a solution for the best interest of Kenyan rugby.
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“The principles have been agreed so it’s just about fine-tuning a few things. We are engaging them (players) and hope they will be back for the Hong Kong Sevens,” said Gangla.
With KRU currently experiencing some financial crisis, Gangla’s main task will be ensuring the union attracts sponsorship for the national teams.
On Monday, the KRU, through a press statement, said the senior Shujaa players had agreed to return to national duty, but it later emerged that there were still some few issues that had not been sorted out.
Willy Ambaka, Samuel Oliech, Eden Agero, Billy Odhiambo, Dan Sikuta and Collins Injera are some of the players who have been on a go-slow.
With four legs left in the 2018-19 season, Kenya is languishing at 14th position on the standings, just four points above the relegation spot.
The side will be hoping to turn things around in Hong Kong and Singapore next month.
At the Hong Kong tournament, the Paul Murunga-coached side has been drawn in a tricky pool C that features Fiji, New Zealand and Australia.
Gangla added that some of his first tasks will be ensuring that the KRU board is reconstituted following Wednesday’s election.
“We shall convene a meeting for us to have specific people in charge of specific responsibilities. We have some crucial assignments such as the Africa U-20 championships that will require critical attention,” he said.