KENYA RUGBY 7s COACH BENJAMIN AYIMBA MAINTAINS HE WILL NOT BE AN ASSISTANT TO A FOREIGN COACH

Speaking to his Kenyan fans via Kenya Rugby 24/7  Facebook page,the Kenya Rugby sevens coach has bitterly condemned the move to bring in a foreign coach for the team after the many years of toiling and keeping the team at its best.

Kenya Rugby 24/7 with Emmanuel Koros.

18 hrs ·

“I, @BenAyimba, will not be an assistant to a foreign coach. I will just sit back and watch like any other Kenyan. We have gone through so much with this team, but now that they have received money, they can go for whoever they want,” #Kenya7s

- Ayimba guided the Sevens team to the Singapore Main Cup title

Playing Career




He started playing rugby in 1993 in form 3 at Maseno School, in Kisumu County. He joined Impala RFC in 1995 going on to play for the Red Shirts till 2001 winning a number of Kenya Cups, Enterprise Cups and Floodlit tournaments along the way. He was poached by Nondies RFC in 2002 where he went on to spend three seasons.




Coaching Career

Coach Benjamin Ayimba

He was appointed the Kenya Sevens captain in 2000 leading Shujaa to two World Cups (Argentina ’01 and Hong Kong ‘05). Interestingly, he succeeded his club coach Bill Githinji as the Kenya Sevens head in 2006, making him the youngest coach on the IRB circuit and in Kenya’s history. He was only 30 years old. On 5th April 2009, he led Kenya to the first ever Main Cup finals in Sydney, Australia on the then IRB World Series where they lost 7-26 against an inform South Africa. In recognition of this sterling achievement, in December 2010 Ayimba was decorated by President Mwai Kibaki with the Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) award.

As at Sep 13th :However Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) advertised for the position of Kenya 7s head coach in effect ending the tenure of celebrated incumbent, Benjamin Ayimba who has served in the position for one year since his second return.

Ayimba did apply for the position but the timing of the notice comes when a payment scandal related to the Rio 2016 Olympics is simmering under the surface but the announcement will be seen as a step by Union bosses to muscle him out of the position.

“The Board of the Union is desirous of filling the position of the Head Coach, Kenya Sevens National Team accountable to the Board through the Chief Executive Officer and the Director of Rugby for the effective overall management of the Kenya Sevens Team.

“The appointed person will coach the team, on and off the field, to a standard of excellence, demonstrating a significant improvement over each annual period of centralization, enhancing the reputation of the Kenya Rugby Union.
“The Head Coach will report to the National Squads Management Committee through the Director of Rugby,” the Union advertisement read.
When contacted, Ayimba indicated; “I’ll apply for the job as they have asked and wait to see,” adding he had no ill feelings over the advertisement stating he was working on ‘voluntary basis’.
KRU is looking for a candidate with a minimum of three years experience as a head coach in a division one club or elite squad.
Relevant World Rugby qualifications in Coaching, demonstration of high ethical standards and integrity in his or her personal and professional dealings and outstanding communication skills, responsive to the needs of the partners and sponsors are among other criteria to be considered.

Applications must be submitted by September 30 with the insertion of the integrity clause a thinly veiled reference to mounting speculation on claims money changed hands for players to be selected to the Kenya 7s and Kenya Lionesses squads for Rio.
Ayimba who led Kenya to the 2009 World Cup Rugby Sevens semi finals in Dubai, took the team that was languishing in 13th at the end of the disastrous 2014/15 HSBC World Rugby Series to seventh in the last season.
He also ensured Shujaa qualified for their maiden Olympics campaign in Brazil by winning the Africa qualifiers where the sport was making its debut at the quadrennial Summer Games.
Kenya 7s failed to make the Olympics quarters after loses to Great Britain, New Zealand and Japan in the group stages.
Their only victory was in the placement clash against hosts Brazil.

Kenya Sevens Rugby team coach Benjamin Ayimba (L) is received by Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) chairman Richard Omwela upon landing at the JKIA on April 19, 2016. Kenya 7s team beat Fiji 30-7 in the final of the Singapore Sevens to capture their first World Series event. Photo/Stafford Ondego/www.sportpicha.com

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