The Kenya Rugby Union has been in the process of restructuring the National Sevens team's set up. This exercise began close to a year ago with the express aim of raising the standards of Kenyan Sevens rugby, and taking the game to the next level and has resulted in the selection of a new technical bench to be headed by Englishman Mike Friday.
The Minister of Youth and Sport in the Government of Kenya, Dr. Paul Otuoma is very encouraged by this development and has assured the Union of the Government's support in helping reposition Kenya as one of the leading lights of the abridged version of the game.
"Our decision to settle on Friday was driven by a need to inject professionalism into the team and as earlier stated, with the aim of taking Kenya Sevens to the next level" said KRU's Chairman – Mwangi Muthee.
Friday has a proven track record in rugby sevens, as a player, captaining England to the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and the 2001 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Mar del Plata, Argentina and as a coach, leading England to four successive Hong Sevens titles, two Dubai Sevens titles, the 2006 Commonwealth Games Silver as well as a number of international titles.
He is looking forward to the task at hand, saying, "I am hugely honored and excited to be given the opportunity of leading the Kenya Sevens programme. Kenya has such a strong, proud Sevens history and have always been a team that the so called top nations have feared."
"Our aim is to become a successful Kenya Sevens team that can consistently compete and perform on the HSBC IRB World 7's Series and where everyone is proud of the performances that the team put in whilst representing the hugely passionate people of Kenya"
Joining him on the technical bench is Christopher Brown from New Zealand who comes on board as the team's Strength and Conditioning Coach. Brown will liaise with Friday and three Assistant Coaches (Tito Oduk, Mitch Ocholla and Felix Ochieng) in bringing out the best from the Kenyan team.
The Kenya Rugby Union would like to acknowledge the International Rugby Board and the team's sponsor Kenya Airways. Both parties have been instrumental in facilitating this process and we offer our sincere gratitude for their support. This will surely be translated into results and improved performances moving forward.
The Kenya Sevens program for the upcoming season will begin on Wednesday 1 st August 2012.
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