Split in decision to sack Kenya rugby coach
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E-mail Xinhua, May 13, 2013
Former English international player and coach Mike Friday was momentarily sacked by a section of the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) on Monday before Chairman Mwangi Muthee overturned the move.
A trigger happy Philip Jalang'o, KRU's Director of National Squads and Elite Performance, had made the infamous announcement relieving Friday his duties only for Muthee to call from London, where the team is saying it was the director who was getting the boot.
Muthee said Friday and his assistant coach Chris Brown stay on as Kenya Sevens coaches and instead Philip Jalang'o has been suspended and his place taken by Gabriel Ouko with immediate effect.
"I would like to ask all Kenyans to treat any correspondence from Philip Jalang'o as a rumour since he no-longer speaks on behalf of the union's board," said Muthee.
"Fridays remains our coach and instead we have sacked Philip Jalang'o and replaced him with Gabriel Ouko as the new Director National Squad and Elite Performance."
"We have a Union board that makes decisions and as such, no specific individual should purport to be making decisions contrary to the Union."
It is the clearest indication that there are two factions in the management of rugby in the country. Observes indicate that Jalang' os faction are sympathisers of the previous regime that was voted out of office by Muthee four years ago.
The Briton who led Kenya to her highest ever finish at the just concluded HSBC World Series with the team placing fifth globally on 99 points was first "axed" alongside fitness and conditioning coach, Chris Brown.
Minutes later, Muthee, speaking from London where the team finished fourth at the last leg of the HSBC World Series on Sunday maintained Friday was still in charge but instead, Jalango had been replaced by Gabriel Ooko.
According to Jalang'os, Friday's assistant Felix Ochieng has been appointed to take charge of the team in its preparations for the World Cup in Moscow in July.
KRU made the decision, just a day after Friday had guided Kenya to finish fourth at the final leg of the International Rugby Board (IRB) World Series in his homeland, during the London Sevens tournament.
Jalang'o, KRU's Director of National Squads and Elite Performance said the decision to sack Friday was based on his failure to exemplify the vision, mission and core values of KRU at certain points of the season.
"After a comprehensive review of the Kenya Sevens rugby program during the 2012-2013 season, and with the support of the board, KRU is terminating the contract of Mike Friday as Kenya 7s Head Coach and Chris Brown the Strength and Conditioning Coach, effective immediately," said Jalang'o.
The news caught many off guard as Friday had effectively landed two birds with one stone.
He effectively guided Kenya to finish in the highest possible spot, fifth during the 2012-2013 IRB Sevens World Series, which ended in London on Sunday and also orchestrated Kenya's first win over giants Fiji, the first since the tournament started in 1999.
Sources close to the Union, who refused to be named, have pointed out that the directors of KRU were dissatisfied by the amount of time Friday was spending with the team here in Kenya.
The Union felt that for the amount of resources being invested, the team needed someone who would be easy to reach for the players and officials.
"At this point, in regard to our Kenya 7's program, our players need mentorship, leadership and guidance to maximize on their performance along the goals and objectives of the Kenya Rugby Union," Jalang'o said.
Friday, opted to operate remotely from his England home, a move that irked some of the directors. It is this that forced Jalang'o to appoint his assistant Felix Ochieng to take charge of the team.
"Effective today, the KRU Board has appointed Assistant Head Coach Felix Ochieng, as the interim Head Coach and Bronson Weir from Western Province to assist him, through the remainder of the season," said Jalang'o.
"The KRU Board is not giving up on our long term goals for the Kenya 7's program. Today's announcement is about addressing the present and the future needs of our Kenya 7's program. We want to make the most of our remaining season with the World Cup and put our players in position for success."
Friday was appointed in July last year to help restructure the country's Sevens set up and received the backing of then Minister of Youth and Sport, Dr. Paul Otuoma.
"Our decision to settle on (Mike) Friday was driven by a need to inject professionalism into the team and with the aim of taking Kenya Sevens to the next level," said the Kenyan Rugby Union's Chairman, Mwangi Muthee.
The dramatic afternoon brought to the surface the simmering row between Muthee and Jalang'o, both elected officials at the union.
According to the KRU constitution, elected office bearers can only be removed in a Special General Meeting.
This is the second time the sevens team has been embroiled in scandal in the past two months following the sacking and subsequent restoration of dependable winger, Collins Injera, from the national side.
Friday has a proven track record in Rugby Sevens. As a player he captained England to the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and to the 2001 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Mar del Plata.
As a coach he enjoyed notable successes, including leading England to four successive Hong Kong Sevens titles (2002-2006), two Dubai titles and the 2006 Commonwealth Games Silver medal.
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 work with Friday and three assistant Coaches, Tito Oduk, Mitch Ocholla and Felix Ochieng. Endi
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