DUBAI, March 7 – National sevens rugby coach Benjamin Ayimba will step down at the end of the 2009/2010 International Rugby Board (IRB) World series in June next year.
Speaking after Kenya lost to Argentina in main Cup semifinals on Saturday night, the youthful tactician who took over in November 2006 said he had accomplished all he could during his stint.
“I gave my target as the world cup and we are done so I don’t think I am going to do more than this season. I have shown my worth and I think it will be right to let someone with fresh ideas to take us to the next world cup,” said Ayimba.
“I was a volunteer at the Union and I think its only fair that let it go. I am not on contract and as a gentleman, when you agree to do things you achieve them, you walk away,” he added.
The former national sevens captain said he wants to concentrate on developing talent.
“I want to review how things have happened, how I can be of use elsewhere. We have built the player base which has taken three years and are competing at high levels so it shouldn’t be a problem to stay there. My dream is to develop rugby more because that is where I feel I need to work,” he stated.
He said he was more than pleased with the team’s performance in Dubai despite not winning the world cup as he had targeted, “I can’t say am disappointed because God has been good to us. We wanted the world cup but it did not come but atleast we have shown the world that we can compete at this level and compete well.”
Fatigue, he added had played a role in their semifinal defeat, “It’s a hard three days to be honest and it takes its toll on you so we cannot overlook the fact that the boys were tired.”
Ayimba added that the team’s superb displays had scouts sniffing at the players,
“It’s going to change because the players might not be there. People have been scouting them from all over.”
On the forthcoming IRB legs in Hong Kong ad Adelaide, Ayimba said lifting the players will be an even tougher task.
“Getting the boys to psyche up for Hong Kong will be tough in terms of going ahead. The world cup has taken a lot of oomph from us and lifting ourselves to compete for points will not be easy.”
