Friday still at the helm of 7s, says Muthee

By BEN AHENDA

National Sevens Coach Mike Friday is here to stay and will handle the national team to the Rugby World Cup Sevens, Kenya Rugby Union chairman Muthee Mwangi has said.

Mwangi said the KRU board retained Friday due to his track record after leading Kenya to a respectable fifth position at the recent International Rugby Board (IRB) Sevens.

“The coach relates well with players and has instilled a lot of discipline in them besides injecting good ideas that has brought in better results,” Mwangi said in a KTN Television talk show this week.

He said they cannot release the coach before they have a better replacement although they need someone who spends more time with players.

The Director of National Squads and Elite Performance Phillip Jalang’o had sacked Friday from allegations of insubordination and lacking time with players because he lives in England.

The sacking was later rescinded by Mwangi who pointed out that the said decision squarely lay with the KRU board and not an individual in reference to Jalang’o.

Friday whose performance has won him accolades is now faced with the task of repeating the fate at the sixth edition of the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Russia.

It will be hosted at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow from June 28-30.

The event has attracted 24 men teams and 16 women sides.

Africa will be represented by Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Tunisia.

The KRU chairman said Kenya is potential in talent and needs a professional coach who can propel them to greater heights.

At the same time, Mwangi has said they would advise their young players in the National Sevens Team on ways of investing funds into viable projects.

“Some players are young and needs to be assisted to invest their IRB Sevens championships proceeds,” said Mwangi.

He said players’ salaries were paid directly by the sponsor – Kenya Airways – to their accounts and thanked Kenyans who stood firm with the team at the IRB championships.the nationals.