The curtains came down on the Stanbic Bank Sevens circuit at weekend during the Christie Sevens hosted by SportPesa Harlequins, winding up the six-leg circuit.
Menengai Cream Homeboyz emerged victorious with a sudden death triumph over the hosts. The game was tied at 19-all at full time that precipitated the dreaded sudden death.
Quins had raced to a 14-0 lead after Homeboyz’s Leonard “the Lord” Mugaisi had been yellow-carded only for the defending national circuit champions to storm back and tie the game.
The Lord turned hero in the sudden death after a kick and a chase before he grounded the ball for a try to break the Harlequins hearts and send the handful Homeboyz fans into delirium.
Leonard had earlier failed with a similar kick-and-chase approach when he dropped the ball cold with the try line begging that left him embarrassed but that was all forgotten when the dancing that ensued after his second attempt.
Harlequins performed well despite stumbling just outside the Pearly Gates.
The DJs have been the team to beat after winning four of the six tournaments and the only team that had a realistic chance of dethroning them was Mwamba RFC but they failed to get past the cup quarters handing the overall crown to the DJs.
The stage is set now for annual Safari Sevens in November but we are yet to know who the national sevens coach will be.
It is understood that shortlisting was done and Paul Murunga, the current Homeboyz, coach is among those tipped for the position.
Pau as he is fondly known in the local scene has been around the national sevens team as an assistant and with the performance of his team over the last couple of years in the sevens circuit where the DJs have been crowned champions multiple times, it would be safe to say his stars are aligning in his favour.
The board is not likely in position to hire a foreign coach due to financial constraints unless Richard Omwela runs into a leprechaun with a pot of gold and, logically, a local coach would be the cheaper option.
I don’t think a board that is currently fund raising through an M-Pesa paybill can be very choosy on whom to hire and with the Safari Sevens less than two months away, luxury of time is not on the board’s side.
Last year the tournament was not held due to political unrest from the general elections to the disappointment of many who would have appreciated some quality distraction from the polarizing poll.
The level of expectations this year is higher considering the fact that the spectacle is returning to the spiritual home of Safari Sevens, Ngong Road’s RFUEA grounds, after several years of experimentation at bigger venues with better facilities with the hopes of growing the tournament internationally.
The facilities at the RFUEA grounds have remained relatively unchanged over the last decade despite the growth of the game yet the board has been making grandiose declarations without marching or corresponding investment at the grounds.
The notable improvement is the stand Safaricom Foundation put up years ago.
I do acknowledge the fact that we lack a national stadium for rugby and the board is actually doing a job meant for the government but it is still a sad fact that after over a decade of millions from corporates going through their hands they cannot point out what they have been doing other than firing and hiring.
It doesn’t take Sh1 million to put a decent ablution blocks round the stadium rather than relying on temporary ones for hire.
If you are serving me beer for three days straight during Safari Sevens please also give me a decent place to pee other than the bush. Fans pay dearly to attend the Safari Sevens.
Last but not least, if we are expected to attract top flight teams or nations at least give them decent changing rooms.
I have been to the RFUEA changing rooms, and decent does not begin to apply there.
I am aware the government has promised a rugby stadium but with current state of affairs economically, that is a pipe dream.
Remember the same government had promised to build stadium for each county — a campaign goody for the gullible — so let’s not hold our breath on a rugby stadium.
With this realization, KRU has its work cut out to make fans get value for their money as I am sure the ticket for Safari Sevens will not come cheap.
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