News

KRU set to terminate Sevens coach’s contract after poor performances

Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 00:00 | By
Coach Paul Feeney (left) with Shujaa players Willy Ambaka (centre), Alvin Otieno and Collins Injera during a past training session. Photo/PD/ALEX NJUE

Paul Feeney is set to leave his role as the technical director of Kenya Sevens team, People Sport has learnt.

The New Zealander, who was appointed last September to head Shujaa’s technical bench after a less impressive 2018/19 season under Paul Murunga, is the high-profile personality set to be affected by a number of contractual changes the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) is mooting.

After Kenya escaped relegation by a whisker last season, finishing 13th with 37 points, KRU decided to replace Murunga with Feeney with the tactician tasked with ensuring the team posts at least a top eight finish in the 2019/20 campaign as well as a good run at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

However, Shujaa have continued to struggle in the World Sevens Series this campaign, sitting 12th on the standings with 35 points, 22 below his season’s target of a top eight finish after reaching the cup quarter-final just once in six legs many of which they have not even got past the groups stages.

This is despite a number of senior players returning to the squad after last season’s struggles were attributed to their absence. 

That, plus the fact that the Olympics has been postponed to 2021 is believed to have forced KRU to terminate Feeney’s contract, given the union is also struggling financially.

KRU’s financial troubles are also likely to hit the players whose contracts  People Sport understands are under review after the coronavirus pandemic made an already bad situation worse. 

A board decision will determine the due process that will lead into contracting a new coach who will join the team when competitions resume after World Rugby joined the rest of the globe in suspending all action.

Murunga and Feeney’s assistant Kevin Wambua are said to be the local front runners for the job.

More on News


ADVERTISEMENT

RECOMMENDED STORIES News


ADVERTISEMENT