Shujaa head coach highlights areas that need improvement

The men’s national rugby 7s head coach Damian McGrath has outlined the areas he would love Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) to urgently invest in following the team’s new found sponsorship.

Around two weeks ago, Shujaa, who had hit the interweb for the wrong reasons, entered into a three year deal with a gaming partner that would see them receive 126 million shillings, the agreement coming at a time when the team were struggling to raise funds to cater for the player welfare including salaries.

However, following the timely intervention, the Shujaa boss has outlined what needs to be done to try and lift Shujaa out of the relegation places where the team currently finds itself in after the three outngs of the campaign.

“We are very grateful for the timely sponsorship. At least now we can expect our salaries to be paid on time and have not to worry about the off field issues.

Hopefully now, we can have some proper investments in the team in terms of facilities and development program and all the small things our competitors have as standard that we do not have and that allow them to compete on an equal level,” the coach told Mozzart Sport.

“We have no gymnasium because it is dilapidated. The pitch is not great for our training. We do not have a changing room, a meeting room, a medical room and the players just take their meals on the side of the field stood on their feet.

We are high performance in name only and not in action. If we can get those things right it can help us compete on an equal footing,” he stated.

The English head coach also categorically called on the country’s rugby governing body to ensure a reserve Shujaa team is actively on the wings with the aim of bridging the gap to the World Series stage.

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“For example in Dubai, all the other teams had development teams in the invitational tournament that ran concurrently and we did not. It is a really huge jump from amateur level in Kenya to the World Series and we need somewhere to bridge that gap and a well-funded resource development program will go a long way to helping.

If we want to maintain our status as a World Series team, it has to happen. We might have left it too late but we need to help the players be the best they can be,” he said.

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How have Shujaa performed so far?

The Damian McGrath currently coached side had a woeful start to the season as they finished last in the season opening outing held in Hong Kong back in November where they finished in last place, garnering only one point after losing all its matches.

In the second outing that took place in Dubai, Shujaa managed an 11th placed finish where they took five points for their exploits.

In the recently concluded Cape Town 7s, the team finished in 13th place which gave them three points leading to a total of nine points after the three outings.