Kenya Sevens Rugby coach to step down

Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-01 17:00:57|Editor: Yamei
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NAIROBI, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- Kenya Sevens Rugby coach Innocent Simiyu will not extend his term in office after his contract expires in October.

Simiyu, one of the most successful coaches to have guided Kenya rugby team, says he has moved on and will seek work abroad after his position together with his technical bench was declared vacant without any of them stepping down.

"Me applying for again to coach the national team, I haven't really thought about it. I have moved on. I will not apply for the job," said Simiyu here on Saturday.

"I believe they (Kenya Rugby Union) have made the right decision. There are many good coaches locally and international who can help the team achieve their targets."

Simiyu will have to go despite posting the best performance for Kenya in the World Series. It was widely expected the Union would renew his contract but there is bad blood between the technical bench and the KRU administration.

Under Simiyu, Kenya was able to surpass the 100 points mark in World Series as it attained 104 marks. The last time the team came close to this was in 2013 under Englishman Mike Friday when they collected 99 points on the circuit. Friday was sacked and he moved on to secure a coaching contract with USA.

In June, Simiyu owned up to save his players from being punished when he said it was his mistake the team blocked sponsors signage in Paris leg of the World Series in protest of their unpaid allowances and bonuses.

He was temporary sacked before he was reinstated for the Sevens World Cup in San Francisco.

Other coaches who have guided the Kenya Sevens team in the last decade include Benjamin Ayimba, Felix Ochieng, Friday, Paul Treu (South Africa).

The new season starts in November with Kenya hosting the Safaricom Sevens series before heading to the World Series in Dubai in December. KRU said it will have a new coach by November.

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