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The Kenya Sevens great revealed what the country must to do if they have to return the team to its glory days
Former Kenya Sevens star Collins Injera believes Kenya Rugby Union needs to go back to basics if they are to experience sustained success with Shujaa.
Injera was part of the Shujaa set up, featuring in 424 matches that including four Sevens World Cups and two Olympics in a 17-year spell before he retied in January this year.
With the vast experience, the 36-year-old has seen it all and feels Kenya will still struggle to compete with the well-established sides even if Shujaa, who were relegated from the World Sevens Series last month make a return.
“The typical Kenyan player is still struggling with his left pass and tackling and the reason for that is that we started our rugby late. Very few of our players started rugby at the age of five or something,” Injera told the SemaBOX podcast.
“The skills being taught in Kenya is very different. What Mwamba players would have is not the same as what Kabras or KCB players would have because of the different approach. We do not have a standard approach in how we play the game.
“Even on development level, like South Africa, their development path is very clear. Australia, their path is very clear. Even if a player is playing in the Under-19, they know this is the structure, I will find it when I go to the senior team.
“That player will never struggle with structure. They know that they need to up their passing and handling so the only thing that will be changing from when he is young until he plays for the national team is the intensity.
“How he gyms, runs, communicates but in terms of structure and skills, there is no compromise. It starts down there so everybody understands if I want to play for the Springboks, Wallabies or the All Blacks, the structure is the same. Even to club rugby, it is the same. For us, it is very different, we have players who will come and say we don’t do that at my club.”
Besides a well laid down structure, Injera also feels the playing unit needs to be motivated at all times and not experience contract issues or delayed payments that bedeviled his reign, partly contributing to his retirement.
“There is this thing that we reward people after playing,” Injera added. “When we do not do well, upon returning at the airport, we are met by our family members but when we win, we are welcomed in a big way. We need to invest in it. Start with this team now when it is down. Even getting into these satellite tournaments that they will be playing will need sponsorship.”
“Corporates have been shying away because our history, the stories they have heard about Kenya Rugby Union. But now, we have a new Sports CS and a new executive at KRU. If they get the trust back of the corporates, I know they can invest.”
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