Patrice Agunda's honest assessment after mass exodus at Kenya Harlequin

Kenya Harlequin head coach Patrice Agunda has admitted that life after the mass exodus witnessed before the start of the Kenya Cup season has been disappointing.

Quins’ difficult start to the campaign continued on Saturday, 21 February, after a 30-23 loss to Kenya Cup debutants Daystar Falcons at the Ngong Racecourse, a result that left them still without a victory this year.

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In September 2025, internal unrest erupted within the team, stemming from frustrations over the club’s payment structure. The standoff, which began shortly after the Embu Sevens, escalated into player boycotts and tense engagements with club leadership.

Matters came to a head during a stormy meeting at the RFUEA Grounds on Saturday, 20 September, where players were reportedly given an ultimatum: accept the existing payment model or request to leave.

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A poll later conducted on the team’s official WhatsApp group revealed overwhelming support for departure should the structure remain unchanged, with more than 30 players voting to walk away.

In the aftermath, the club confirmed that 38 players would be released, including key starters and game-changers such as Amon Wamalwa, Lucky Dewald, and Arnold Onzere. Agunda had to start afresh with a new crop of young players.

“It has been disappointing. The challenge with a younger team is ensuring they maintain the same focus regardless of the opponent or situation. That’s where we struggled, but we can only learn and improve moving forward,” he offered.

Their 2026 run has been marked by inconsistency despite flashes of promise. They opened with a 32-22 loss to Nondescript RFC before going down 24-12 to KCB Rugby in a tightly contested encounter.

A narrow 22-17 defeat to Menengai Oilers followed, before a heavy 48-13 loss to Kabras Sugar RFC.

While the performances against top sides have shown potential, Agunda believes lapses in game management and focus have cost them dearly.

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“We didn’t get to play our usual game (against Daystar Falcons) on Saturday, and we paid the price. We now need to regroup and come back stronger,” Agunda said.

The former Shujaa ace admitted there was a visible drop in sharpness during key moments of the match.

“There was a sense of complacency, and we struggled with making agile decisions on the field. Our game drivers weren’t able to manage the match as we had planned, so we ended up playing as we were,” he offered.

Despite the setback, Agunda found positives in the impact of his bench, whose late surge helped Quins secure a losing bonus point.

“Credit to our bench players, though, who tried to lift the tempo and make the scoreline a bit more respectable; we walked away with a losing bonus of around two points. We take what we have and look to build from there,” he said.

Quins currently sit eighth on the log with eight points from eight matches. They have only managed two wins so far.

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Agunda noted that working with a youthful squad comes with its own challenges.

Up next, Quins will face Impala RFC in a Ngong Road derby slated for Saturday, 28 February at the Impala Grounds.