Lioness boss Shamiah going nowhere-KRU boss Omwela

Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) chairman Richard Omwela has dismissed reports that national women’s sevens team, Lionesses head coach, Mike Shamiah would be axed a month to the Rio 2016 Olympics.

The team was rocked by uncertainty over the fate of the coach with South African Aschin Klein, who has been a consultant with the team for over a year, being tipped to take over for the Olympics assignment.

But speaking to Citizen Digital Omwela expressed his faith in the head coach stating that he is one of the best coaches the national side ever had besides gaining favour in the eyes of the rugby officials and fans as well.

“Shamiah is a great coach and we have no intention of kicking him out of the national side because he inspires the ladies to great performances,” the KRU boss expressed.

The Lionesses who are trying to emerge from the shadow of their male counterparts have progressed under Shamiah, Omwela underlining they have done the country proud despite lacking a sponsor.

 

“He took the team to Hong Kong 7s and even though they finished runners-up, we believe they received a major boost ahead of the Rio Olympics in Brazil,” emphasized the chairman.

Lionesses were also rewarded as the most disciplined team and given the Roma 7s Fair Play Award recently.

 

Last week, KRU Director of Women’s Rugby Paula Lanco who has been rumoured to be pushing for the appointment of the South African at the helm of the team clarified the team’s hierarchy ahead of Rio 2016.

“Through a few friends we have managed to bring in a consultant Coach from South Africa. He has been the chairman and Director of Rugby services for one of the top clubs in Western Province called Titans Women’s Rugby club,”

“Our intentions is to tap into his technical knowhow because he has an amazing track record as he has contributed about two players to the Women’s Springboks team,” she told Raga House.

Kevin Mwema was retained as Shamiah’s assistant.

Report by John Njuguna

Tags:

olympics Lionesses Kenya Rugby Union Mike Shamiah Richard Omwela Rio 2016 Kenya 7s women

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