.jpg)
Kabras RFC head coach identifies biggest problem ailing Kenyan rugby
.jpg)
.jpg)
Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 06.06.26. | 16:13
The South African tactician has spent more than five years in Kenya and guided Kabras Sugar RFC through the most dominant period in the club's history
"Our rugby is dying a slow death."
Those were the sobering words of Kabras RFC head coach Carlos Katywa as he delivered a blunt assessment of the challenges facing Kenyan rugby despite his team's sustained domestic success.
Download our Mozzart Sport app for more news
The South African tactician, who has spent more than five years in Kenya and guided Kabras Sugar RFC through the most dominant period in the club's history, believes a lack of financial backing and sponsorship is slowly crippling the sport.
.jpg)
Katywa explained that Kenyan rugby stakeholders need to confront the reality and hold honest conversations about the game's future.
"Our rugby is dying a slow death. I am not here to testify why we have done badly, but I think we need to have a real introspection on what the truth is.
The truth of the matter is that there is no money, there is no backing, and the truth and the fact of the matter is that something needs to be done in the Kenya Cup,” he said in an interview with Sporty FM.
According to the gaffer, the solution lies in bringing together all stakeholders, including club chairpersons and administrators, to discuss what has worked in other rugby nations that were once at a similar level to Kenya.
"There is a need for a sit-down by all chairmen and all stakeholders, and we discuss. Look at what works in different countries similar to ours. Let us not go for bigger countries, just countries similar to us, but they are doing well," he said.
Katywa pointed to Portugal as one of the countries Kenya should learn from, noting how the European nation has overtaken Kenya despite previously being considered a beatable opponent.
Portugal has experienced a massive rise in rugby, highlighted by winning their first Rugby Europe Championship in 22 years by defeating long-time dominator Georgia.
This builds on their heroic performances at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, steady increases in national participation, and the revitalisation of both their women's and sevens programs.
"Portugal is right next to us. It is the team that we used to beat, but now they are doing well. What have they done differently?" he posed.
He also highlighted Spain's rise across various formats of the game, from sevens rugby to the traditional 15-a-side version.
"Spain, look at them dominate female sevens, male sevens, now fifteens. They are in the top 20 now. We used to beat them. What did they do differently that we are not doing? Those are questions that need to be spoken about,” he explained.
While admitting he does not have all the answers, Katywa expressed confidence that Kenya has enough capable minds both within rugby and the corporate world to help turn things around.
"I do not have the answers myself, but I am telling you that we have got enough brains in Kenya, enough intelligent people sitting in corporate positions, who, if we sit down and talk and be honest with each other and not look at where someone comes from, and look at how to reshape and redirect our rugby. Right now, our rugby is dying a slow death,” he said.
Katywa's concerns come despite his remarkable achievements at Kabras RFC. The former fly-half joined the Kakamega-based side in late 2022 as an assistant coach responsible for the forwards under then-head coach Jerome Muller ahead of the 2022/23 season.
Following Muller's departure, he was promoted to head coach and has since overseen an era of unprecedented dominance. Under his leadership, Kabras have remained unbeaten in domestic competitions, winning five Kenya Cup titles and an equal number of Enterprise Cup crowns.